Paso Robles Wine Country Tours Los Angeles Redux

On March 2, nearly 40 wineries from Paso Robles converged at Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles for the Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour - Los Angeles.  Winemakers poured more than 150 wines, including 40 single-varietal wines and blends for Los Angeles wine enthusiasts and Paso Robles fans.

The former Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, built in 1876, provided the spectacular backdrop for the Los Angeles Grand Tasting.  Winery booths lined the corridors where parishoners waited to enter the confessional booths or sat quietly in the pews during Sunday services.  Today, Vibiana is a premier event location in Downtown Los Angeles catering to posh award events and this afternoon/evening's wine tasting.   

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance members are hitting the road throughout 2011 as part of the Grand Tasting Tour pouring award-winning wines from one of the most acclaimed wine regions in the country for wine enthusiasts in Scottsdale, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.

During the nearly four hour Trade and Media tasting, I enjoyed some 50 wines from nearly a dozen wineries. In particular, these wineries poured some fantastic wines including single-varietal and blends of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, Viognier, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, among other varietals.  Here is a selection of noteworthy wines from the tasting that exhibit complexity, depth, distinctive fruit characteristics and balanced acidity (and not overtly ripe for my palate), as well as price and quality for everyday drinking:

Adelaida Cellars
--2008 Grenache ($32)

Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery
--2008 Toasted Slope: 92% Syrah, 3% Viognier, 3% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache ($40)
--2008 Old 900: 98% Syrah, 2% Viognier ($48)
--2008 Ann's Block, Petite Sirah ($48)

Ancient Peaks Winery
--2009 Merlot ($16)
--2008 Zinfandel ($16)
--2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($16)

Anglim Winery
--2007 Mourvèdre, Hastings Ranch ($34)
--2008 Zinfandel, St. Peter of Alcantara ($24)

Austin Hope Winery
--2009 Grenache ($40)
--2009 Syrah ($40)

Caliza Winery
--2009 Sidekick: 65% Roussanne, 35% Viognier ($25)
--2007 Azimuth: 53% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre ($45)

Kenneth Volk Vineyards
--2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmody McKnight Vineyard ($36)

kukkula
--2006 i.p.o.: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Zinfandel ($24)
--2008 sisu: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre ($TBD)

Tablas Creek Vineyard
--2010 Patelin de Tablas Blanc: 50% Grenache Blanc, 33% Viognier, 10% Roussanne, 7% Marsanne ($20)

Terry Hoage Vineyards
--2009 The Gap: 59% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 16% Picpoul Blanc ($38)
--2009 The Pick: 53% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 14% Mourvèdre, 7% Counoise ($48)

Thacher Winery
--2007 Triumvirate, Zinfandel ($36)
--2007 Controlled Chaos: 42% Zinfandel, 37% Mourvèdre, 21% Grenache ($33)
--2007 Syrah ($26)

Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery - Superbly crafted wines!

Steffanie Anglim, Anglim Winery - Delicious wines!

Carl Bowker, Caliza Winery - Drink it, Love it!

The sun is always shining on Sherman Thacher (Thacher Winery)

The Rhone Ranger himself, Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard

Vibiana, Downtown Los Angeles - Great setting for the Grand Tasting