2018 L'Aventure Cuvée Estate
The Collective Review
It takes commitment to land a spot on California's most coveted cult mailing list wines. Years can pass, before you even hear an inkling that you might be in the running. The demand; insatiable. The wait; gruelling.
California is home to the world's most lusted after big game reds. Cakebread, Opus One, Harlan, Schrader, Screaming Eagle, Sine Qua Non.
Whether you intend to cellar these illustrious wines for a lifetime or take a chance on the secondary market (where the prices regularly jump well above the starting price), possessing merely a bottle of these wines lands you in a very exclusive club.
Welcome, to your chance to jump to the front of the queue, and take possession of one of them. A 100 point cult Californian Cabernet & Shiraz blend that has never seen the light of day before in Australia.
The Estate Cuvée is a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot that is matured in 90% new French Oak. This is one powerful blend. Weighing in at 15.4% alcohol, you’d better have a spot in your cellar ready - this will last a lifetime.
So, are you ready for L’Adventure? We have secured an infinitesimal number of bottles for those wishing to sample this magnificent wine. This is not an investment to be made lightly, but it is one that will be greatly rewarded, not least for imparting the true Californian red experience.
100 Points. The 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of two decades or more. Hats off to winemaker Stephan Asseo on another incredible wine, as well as, I suspect the wine of the vintage. Read more
Critic Reviews
100 Points. The 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of two decades or more. Hats off to winemaker Stephan Asseo on another incredible wine, as well as, I suspect the wine of the vintage.
Deep, glass-staining violet. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-accented blueberry, cherry liqueur, incense and pipe tobacco aromas show outstanding definition and pick up suggestions of mocha and exotic spices with air. Offers deeply concentrated black/blue fruit, cherry-vanilla, espresso and bitter chocolate flavors; a spicy flourish emerges as the wine stretches out. Finishes smooth, energetic and extremely long, with youthful, slowly building tannins and lingering suggestions of candied flowers and smoky minerals.
Blackberry and black-walnut aromas with dried meat and spice, following through to a full-bodied yet tight and tannic palate with a smoky and spicy undertone. Linear and firm tannins give it length and focus. 45% syrah, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 15% petit verdot. Better after 2024.
The 2018 Estate Cuvée is made up of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot aged in 90% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, the nose takes some time to unfurl to touches of cast-iron pan, tar, turned earth, cassis and blueberry pie with floral top notes. The palate is full-bodied with lush, mineral-tinged fruits in a firm frame, lifted by surprising freshness and finishing long and perfumed.
Powerful, concentrated and confident with added swagger. Owner Stephan Asseo has deftly brought out opulent swathes of redcurrant and raspberry fruits laced with liquorice and cigar that is both striking and moreish. 100% estate grown fruit cropped to low yields of under 30hl/ha. 90% new French oak, 10% one-year-old French oak, with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining, no filtering.
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: L'Aventure
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Red Blend
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![Region]()
Region: Paso Robles
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 16.0%
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![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
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![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2018
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![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2042
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Style GuideLight Intense
Producer: L'Aventure
Varietal: Red Blend
Region: Paso Robles
Alcohol: 16.0%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2018
Cellar until 2042
Tasting Notes
Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish.
Winemakers Note
- 100% estate grown fruit from L’Aventure Vineyard - 90% new French oak and 10% 1-year-old French oak, with malolactic fermentation in barrel - Length of aging: 15 months - No fining, no filtering Stephan Asseo, founder and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982 when he established Domaine Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru) and Chateau Robin (Cotes de Castillion). Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship, and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron. However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him on a quest for a great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker. After searching for over a year among the world’s great wine fields, Stephan found Paso Robles. He immediately “fell in love” with the unique terroir. The rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influence of the renowned Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country, with the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan began his adventure, “L’Aventure”. His winemaking vision has quickly resulted in wines which have earned high scores and critical acclaim. The Estate Cuvée is the "Grand Vin" of l'Aventure.
Delivery Details
International Marketplace Product: Estimated dispatch from Sydney warehouse: Aug 30th, 2024
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