The 2019 L'Aventure Estate Cuvee is a proprietary red blend from Paso Robles, California, composed of 50% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot. This wine, produced by L'Aventure, is noted for its high alcohol content of 15.2%, and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
James Suckling awarded this wine a score of 97, describing it as having "blackcurrants, crushed stone, and lavender with some rosemary." He notes its "full-bodied" nature, with "creamy tannins and a dark, brooding finish." Suckling suggests that it is "provocative on the palate" and mentions hints of "asphalt and spice notes." He recommends drinking it now or after 2025, but ideally giving it another five years in the bottle to fully develop (jamessuckling.com).
Decanter gave the wine a score of 93, highlighting its "chocolate-dusted nose with liquorice and cool blue fruit aromas." The review emphasizes its "density with ripe and chewy fruit on the palate" and a smooth texture. Decanter notes layers of "fruit, spice, caramel, sweetness, and savoriness" and mentions the high alcohol with a hint of spice on the finish. They also provide details on the wine's aging process, which includes 15 months in French oak (81% new and 19% one-year-old) with malolactic fermentation in the barrel and no fining or filtering (Decanter).
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine a perfect score of 100, calling it "pure perfection from Paso Robles." He praises its "incredible cassis and blackberry fruits" along with notes of "violets, chocolate, graphite," and a "full-bodied richness." Dunnuck also points out its "concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel" and its "seamless and approachable" nature compared to the more structured 2018 vintage (jebdunnuck.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded the wine 96 points, noting its "deep ruby-purple color" and "fragrant aromas of cassis, licorice, dried roses, leather, and youthful new oak spice." The palate is described as "silky and uplifted, with fine, savory accents and a very long, mineral-driven finish." The review suggests that the wine deserves another 3-5 years in the bottle and will be long-lived in the cellar (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Vinous gave the wine a score of 97, noting its "highly complex, expansive bouquet" with "smoke-accented black and blue fruits, oak spices, incense, mocha, and potpourri." The flavors are described as "sharply delineated cassis, blueberry, and cherry preserve" with "energetic mineral lift" and a "smoky and wonderfully long" finish (Vinous).
Jane Anson awarded the wine 94 points, highlighting its "lovely purity of expression" and "opulent texture." She notes the "punch to the cassis and blueberry fruits" and mentions "pencil lead flavors and a slate kick on the finish." Anson points out that this is the second vintage where shade cloth was used in the vineyard to protect the vines from the hot sun (janeanson.com).
Overall, the 2019 L'Aventure Estate Cuvee is a highly acclaimed wine with a complex profile and significant aging potential.