Paso Robles: Seductive 2018s and 2019s

BY JOSH RAYNOLDS | JULY 07, 2022

The 2018 and 2019 vintages in Paso Robles produced a great number of outstanding wines, in many cases the best showings of a winery’s work that I have yet tasted. The top examples of both year’s wines are marked by energy, precision and complexity and are destined for long aging, assuming readers have the willpower to resist their upfront, seductive fruitiness.

The Adelaida District is home to Paso Robles' highest altitude sites as well as some of the oldest vines in the region.

Recent Growing Seasons

The 2019 growing season started slowly, with abundant, much-needed rainfall in the early spring that helped to replenish the groundwater that has been diminishing over the last decade. Spring weather was cooler than usual, and while the summer was warm, it was rarely excessively hot, which allowed the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly. In most cases, these conditions pushed the harvest into the third week of September and even later for cooler vineyards that lie closer to the Pacific Ocean on the appellation’s west side. The resulting wines show distinct clarity and fine detail, with fresh fruit character and harmonious tannins that will allow them to be enjoyed soon after release. However, it would be a mistake to underestimate the ageworthiness of numerous reds and even whites, which I suspect will enjoy long aging curves thanks to their balance.