Scott Brennan Wine Reviews

Rosé wine has come along way from white zinfandel, and Paso Robles has a lot of premium rosé wines to offer. Rosé is quite possibly the quintessential summer wine. Perfect for sipping poolside, serving at barbecues, and enjoying at picnics. Rosé wines are most available at this time of year and there are plenty of good ones around. Wine Recommendations Austin Hope 2023 Rosé — $37 A blend of mourvèdre and grenache. It offers aromas and flavors of fresh watermelon and strawberries that continue through the palate. The overall mouthfeel is light and crisp and finished with a splash of citrus sea salt. It's perfect to pair with warm summer days. Barton 2023 Fancy Rosé of Grenache — $40 This grenache features notes of hibiscus and dragon fruit. Enjoy on a sunny day with a fruit and goat cheese flatbread. Crush Vineyard 2023 Tantric — $34 Dark salmon in color, this tannat rosé is bright and crisp. It's a fruit-forward rosé with a long smooth finish, creating an alluring experi...

Paso Robles is celebrated for its rich and diverse red wines that captivate both casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike. As daytime summer heat gives way to cooler evenings, there's nothing quite like indulging in a glass of robust red wine to complement your meals or simply to enjoy on its own. The region's unique terroir and innovative winemakers produce reds with depth, complexity, and character. Wine Recommendations Ancient Peaks 2021 Renagade — $28 This blend of syrah, petit verdot, and malbec presents complex aromas of violets, blue fruits, and pomegranate with notes of graphite, cinnamon and toasted oak. The palate is rich with flavors of cherry, currant, raspberry, cranberry, and smoked meat. Austin Hope 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon — $56 Dark ruby in color, this cabernet sauvignon expresses aromas of freshly picked black currants and blackberries, with subtle notes of violets, mocha, and dried spices. On the palate, it features flavors of olallieberry, cherry fruit, ce...

Published: December 12, 2024 Category: White | Year: 2024 | Type: Holiday Guide With the holiday season upon us, we invited our local wineries to help us with their best wines. We were impressed with their submissions. When you celebrate this season and plan your holiday parties, Christmas dinner, and New Year's Eve celebration, consider pouring some tasty local wines. White wines are wonderful options for holiday evenings, meals, and even gifts. Luckily there is no shortage of fantastic white wines in Paso Robles. We received so many delicious white wines that we created a separate list of recommended sparkling wines and rosé wines. Here are the local white wines we recommend to you. Top local white wine recommendations Ancient Peaks 2021 Pearl Chardonnay – $32 This oak-aged chardonnay leads with satiny textures. Its only available online and in the tasting room. It bursts from the glass with aromas of tropical fruit, butterscotch, quince, and biscotti. The smooth mouthfeel...

Published: December 12, 2024 Category: Rosé | Year: 2024 | Type: Holiday Guide Rosé wine has come a long way since it was synonymous with white zinfandel. I remember rosé as a holiday tradition at family get-togethers when I was young. Today's Paso Robles' rosés are sophisticated and refreshing. They come in a wide spectrum of pink hues, from light to dark, and are pressed from a growing number of varieties of wine grapes. These rosé wines present a fresh taste of Paso Robles wines at reasonable prices. Paso Robles rosé wines pair well with lighter fare and appetizers like prosciutto-wrapped melon, smoked salmon, and deviled eggs. They will also go well with baked ham, pork tenderloin, and the white meat of a roasted turkey. For all the holiday chefs out there, consider enjoying rosé wines yourself as you prepare holiday meals. Remember to serve them chilled. Enjoy! Top local rosé wine recommendations Barr Estate Winery Mourvèdre Rosé 2022 – $28 A blend of 79% mourvèdre ...

Published: December 13, 2024 Category: Pinot Noir | Year: 2024 | Type: Holiday Guide Pinot noir is always a popular choice for holiday parties and dinners because it is easy to pair with so many holiday dishes. Pinot noir's traditional characters of medium-bodied fruit, lower alcohol, velvety mouthfeel, and bright acidity make it an excellent lighter red wine for an appetizer plate of charcuterie and cheeses or holiday meals. After tasting many local pinot noir wines, we made recommendations for you below. We suggest serving these wines slightly chilled at about 55°F. Top local pinot noir wine recommendations Austin Hope 2021 Pinot Noir – $65 This pinot noir bursts from the glass with jammy raspberry and plum aromas accented by tobacco leaf, sandalwood and cocoa powder. Sleek, flashy textures flood the mouth with flavors of cherry, cassis, blackberry and cola. The finish is velvety and impeccably weighted, with lingering hints of mint leaf and red fruits. Glunz Family Winery...

Published: December 17, 2024 Category: Cabernet/Red | Year: 2024 | Type: Holiday Guide Cabernet sauvignon wines are big, bold, tannic wines that pair perfectly with holiday meals centered around meats like prime rib, roast beef, pork tenderloin, lamb, and venison. Lucky for us, Paso Robles is producing some outstanding cabernets and Bordeaux-style blends. Here is a selection of Paso Robles wines we recommend for your upcoming holiday meals. We received so many tasty wines that we created separate lists for recommendations. See more recommendations on zinfandels, pinot noirs, Rhône-style reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines below this list. Top local red wine recommendations Ancient Peaks 2021 Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon – $48 This 18-month-aged wine dances in the glass with aromas of red currant, plum, black olive, and anise. A supple, polished mouthfeel with layers of cherry, berries finish with tobacco and notes of vanilla cream, coffee cinnamon fresh acidity, and chalky tan...

Published: December 12, 2024 Category: Dessert | Year: 2024 | Type: Holiday Guide Sweet, sticky dessert wines can make a great accompaniment to holiday dessert selections. After tasting several Paso Robles dessert wines, these are our top recommendations. Enjoy these wines by a crackling fire, or cellar them. They will continue to develop in the bottle for the next 10-15 years. Serve them after your holiday meal with a dessert or as dessert by itself. These sweet wines also pair wonderfully with cheeses. They also make perfect holiday gifts from Paso Robles. Enjoy! Top local dessert wine recommendations Barr Estate Winery 2013 Grande Finale – $30 An exquisite blend of 60% Touriga Nacional and 40% souzao delivers a full mouthfeel with a light finish not often found in port-style wines. Enjoy with chocolate, fresh berries, ice cream, blue cheese, stilton, or a good cigar. Dubost 2015 Blood of Jove – $30 Dark opaque in color with a ruby core, this dessert wine is 100% Touriga Na...