2019 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

“This wine represents the realization of my vision for great blended red wine in Paso Robles. In this wine you have the best representative of our Willow Creek District terroir!” • 100% estate grown fruit from L’Aventure Vineyard • Very low yield: 1.5 to 2 tons per acre (with 2100 vines per acre) • 81% new French oak and 19% 1-year-old French oak, with malolactic fermentation in barrel • Length of aging: 15 months • No fining, no filtering • 2000 cases produced ABOUT L’AVENTURE Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982 when he established Domaine Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinale (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru) and Chateau Robin (Cotes de Castillion). Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship, and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron. However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him on a quest for a great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker. After searching for over a year among the world’s great wine fields, Stephan found Paso Robles. He immediately “fell in love” with the unique terroir. The rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influence of the renowned Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country, with the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan began his adventure, “L’Aventure”. His winemaking vision has quickly resulted in wines which have earned high scores and critical acclaim. Stephan Asseo, elected Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year in 2014, is “Without a doubt, one of the Central Coast superstars and one of the references in California”, according to Jeb Dunnuck (Wine Advocate)… The spirit of L’Aventure is most evident in Stephan’s “Paso blends”, such as Optimus and Estate Cuvée. Both wines are Cabernet Sauvignon/ Syrah/Petit Verdot blends. In these wines, as well as in his Rhône blend Côte a Côte (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre), the blending of premium varietals increases the authenticity, complexity, and balance of the wines. The Thienot family takes over a share in L’Aventure Winery. According to Stanislas Thiénot, “it’s a true partnership between two families who share common values. Great wine terroirs expression, our vision of the future and our independence of spirit led us to this alliance.”