Willow Creek 2021: Report and top-scoring wines

The flagship Grenache-based estate red from this esteemed Paso producer. The nose opens with plumminess, cherry notes, and fruit purity that shines through to the palate: bold, showy, serving dark fruits, a liquorice note and sweet toasted oak. The James Berry vineyard showcases potential realised in Paso Robles with expertly balanced structural elements. To be released in spring 2024.

The Booker flagship wine shows pronounced aromatic intensity, leading with black fruits, cured meats and graphite notes, a herbaceous menthol note on the palate and moderate tannins. The wine is broad-shouldered and assertive, with no question of its ageability. Acid, tannins, alcohol level and fruit concentration signify a long life ahead in the bottle.

The L’Aventure vineyard is one of the sources of quality fruit in Paso, and this wine is no exception. Aromas of dark, jammy fruit dominate, and the fruit on the palate is equally assertive, with healthy doses of cedar and spice. Tannins are muscular and powdery, which will aid in the ageability – a full-bodied, authoritative Paso wine with quality at the foundation.

Saxum has been working with the G2 vineyard since 2014, and this Grenache-dominant 2021 embodies the phrase ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’, in its restraint combined with power. Dark cherries on a shy nose, hints of cedar and toastiness. The palate is a well-integrated study on precision and interplay: dark currant and plum fruits, cinnamon, black pepper, completed by sweet oak spice.

The flagship GSM blend from quality producer L’Aventure. This is the more 'delicate' offering in the producer's portfolio – a word not often used in Paso. Red and black fruits interplay on the nose. The palate is chewy and textured with flavours of red fruits, baking spices and faint floral notes. A lengthy finish rounds out this beauty.

A Grenache-based blend from the Rhône-focused estate owned by Eric and Lisa Jensen. Red and black fruits on the nose, peppery and heaps of spice. The palate is rich, fruit-driven, smooth and luscious. A big, rich Paso Rhône blend done right. The most food-friendly wine of the Booker portfolio that would easily pair with many dishes.

Kän'krēt' is a phonetic pronunciation for concrete. The intention with ageing in concrete is to highlight the purity of the Grenache fruit, which this wine does on both the nose and the palate with bright red fruit, specifically notes of cherry. Minerality and spice prevail, as does a freshness throughout due to its marked acidity. Drink this wine now, but it will improve and evolve with ageing.

Another stunner from the Dusi family, fourth-generation Paso growers, this time from their more recent project, the high-elevation Paper Street vineyard. A lighter and brighter Zinfandel expression than the Dusi Vineyard, but still squarely California Zinfandel. Red fruits, blood orange notes, black pepper and baking spices with an acid backbone and a lengthy finish.

Sleek and straight, I love the texture here, smooth and so filling in a caressing kind of way. Tannins are lovely, soft and subtle, and this has a delicate sweetness with some savoury touches and bright acidity giving tang. It's lean and straight, gorgeous streamlined elements, nothing too massy or plump, but keeps the intensity of flavour al the way and ends still with lift and bite and juice. I like this a lot, it's not trying too hard to overplease. Glossy and shiny. Floral and finessed.

Based in Tin City, an urban tasting zone/makers market, Turtle Creek sources grapes from the most esteemed vineyards in Paso. This Syrah-dominant blend leads with black fruit notes, meatiness and cracked black pepper on the nose. The tannins are at the forefront, but will integrate with time. The fruit is ripe, compote style, and in line with the other structural elements. Full-bodied with a lengthy finish. A barrel sample was tasted.

A stunner from this Mexican-American-owned Paso winery with fruit from Dusi-owned Paper Street vineyard. Pure red fruit on the nose, spice notes of clove and cinnamon, echoed on the palate with mocha notes emerging at the back, recalling its Rioja inspiration. Fresh, balanced and approachable. To be released in August 2024.

Barrel sample from the famed G2 Vineyard, the nose leads with black fruits, wood spice and black pepper. The palate is equally as deep, dark and masculine, with the addition of black olive and roasted meat. An example of the strength and power that can come out of Paso.

A GSM blend with darker dashes of Petite Sirah and Tannat. The nose brings blue and blackberries, plus dried herbs and earth. The palate confirms the nose with dark fruit intensity and broodiness, leading into a lengthy finish.

From the Adams Ranch Vineyard, pure cranberries and raspberries, plus ample dried potpourri notes of cinnamon sticks, baking spices and cloves. Prevalent tannins allow this wine to shine with food.

A Rhône-style blend from one of the blend originators in Paso. Matt Trevisan considers varietal wines his nemesis, hence the name of this wine. Black fruit, including plums and cherries on the nose, the palate gives ripe, sun-kissed dark fruits, plus a healthy dose of earthiness and spice. Will evolve and improve with age.

The nose of black fruits, cedar and tobacco points squarely at Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate showcases dark black fruit and well-integrated tannins for a surprisingly silky smooth finish. Will gracefully age due to tannin structure and fruit concentration.

A Graciano-based blend with fruit sourced from Saxum’s James Berry Vineyard. The nose leads with sweet red fruit notes and baking spices. Some time in bottle is recommended as the tannins need time to soften. Tasted from barrel.

Blackberries, freshly cracked black pepper and baking spices on the nose. The palate is tannin driven, which will integrate over time, as the wine was just released at the time of tasting. Fruit sourced from the esteemed James Berry Vineyard.