L'Aventure : Optimus 2021

The 2021 Optimus is an elegant, polished blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. It takes plenty of air to reveal maraschino cherry, blueberry, leather, aniseed, gravel dust and garrigue aromas. The full-bodied palate offers expansive, spicy fruit framed by powdery tannins and focused acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.

Sleek and straight, I love the texture here, smooth and so filling in a caressing kind of way. Tannins are lovely, soft and subtle, and this has a delicate sweetness with some savoury touches and bright acidity giving tang. It's lean and straight, gorgeous streamlined elements, nothing too massy or plump, but keeps the intensity of flavour all the way and ends still with lift and bite and juice. I like this a lot, it's not trying too hard to overplease. Glossy and shiny. Floral and finessed.

Ripe blackberries, cassis and plum skins with blood orange, anisette and wet stones on offer. Full-bodied with compact, refined tannins and velvety texture. Generous and plentiful with a deep core of black fruit and a spiced, chocolatey finish. Really well made. A blend of 55% syrah, 27% cabernet sauvignon and 18% petit verdot. Drink or hold.

55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot from estate vineyards. 14 months in French oak (50% new, 50% one year old). 2,400 cases produced. Tasted blind. Deep opaque purple. Quiet with plush berry fruit on the nose – mixed berry pie, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries. Elevated acidity and ripe, lightly sandy tannin. Fruity acid-driven finish. (SCJ)

Rich raspberry colour, kicks off with a slab of slate tannins, then opens up to show life and lift, fennel, aniseed, raspbery and red cherry fruit, full of Californian joy and sunshine, slight burn of heat on the throat, but enticing and memory making. 100% Estate grown fruit from L’Aventure Vineyard. Stephan Asseo owner and winemaker, from the Willow Creek district of Paso Robles.