2018 Oveja

Neil Collins and his son Jordan have begun carefully pushing the envelope for wine in the region with their intriguing Chenin Blanc bottlings, including an amphora-raised demi-sec and a pét-nat. In addition, they have produced a fascinating Jura-inspired Roussanne/Marsanne Vin Jaune from 2012 that was aged under a voile of yeast for six years before being bottled. This eclectic set of wines continues the Collinses’ steady uptick in quality and elegance, and it offers some of the region’s most interesting blends, which smoothly combine power and vivacity, along with the stuffing and structure to age. As I’ve mentioned before, the family’s Bristols Cider House, a short hop down the road in Atascadero, is producing some of the finest ciders in the country and a visit, or two, is mandatory as a respite from wine during any tasting trip to Paso Robles.