2020 Turtle Rock Vineyards Claude's Cuvee | Willow Creek District AVA Paso Robles California 750ml

The 2020 Claude's Cuvee is based in Syrah from one of our cooler climate vineyards, lending itself to an Old World-leaning wine with a Hermitage-reminiscent bouquet of fine white pepper, rosewater, stewed strawberry, and rhubarb. Medium to full bodied and vibrantly fruity, with stewed brambleberry, crushed granite, and dark chocolate. The tannins are creamy, smooth, and long-lasting. Aged in 70% new French oak for 22 months. 280 cases produced. | Turtle Rock Vineyards

A Syrah-based release with smaller amounts of Mourvedre and Grenache... the 2020 Claude's Cuvee has an Hermitage-like bouquet of roasted herbs, licorice, ground pepper, and meaty, leathery nuances as well as full-bodied richness, a great core of ripe Syrah fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another rich, mouth-filling release from this estate that's more than noteworthy in the vintage. | 92-94 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com