L’Aventure Chloe

2017

WA 94: Blended of 74% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 5% Viognier and 3% Graciano, all co-fermented and aged in 50% new oak, the medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2017 Cuvée Chloe gives up blueberry and boysenberry pie, cassis and red berry aromas with notes of cracked pepper, earth, bitter chocolate, mint leaves and blood orange. The medium to full-bodied palate is silky and layered with a firm frame and long, lifted finish.

AG 95: Inky ruby. Lively, mineral-accented scents of black raspberry, black currant, vanilla and baking spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Pure, elegant and focused on the palate, displaying vibrant lift to the sappy black and blue fruit, violet pastille and spicecake flavors. Finishes extremely long, broad and juicy, with solid mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and smooth tannins.

2016

WA 93+: The 2016 Cuvee Chloe is a blend of 69% Syrah and 31% Grenache that is co-fermented and saw around 20% whole cluster fermentation. The wine reveals aromas of ripe black fruits, roasted meat, espresso roast, dark chocolate and cracked pepper, followed by a rich, full-bodied palate that's amply endowed with extract, fruit and firm, chewy tannins—which may be stem-derived. It was only bottled a month ago when I tasted it, but even so, it's quite structurally assertive, so this is a wine for consumers that aren't afraid of tannin.