Villa Creek, James Berry Vineyard High Road, Paso Robles

Another iteration of James Berry Vineyard from old family friends at Villa Creek; 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre, and 20% Grenache. Earthy, with a huge core of dark berry fruits from hallowed ground.

2013 vintage

Nice GSM blend, more subtle than the ‘11 Grenache drank along side, also a bit more rustic in character. I’m guessing it evolved faster and it probably just a bit past peak. Medium finish. Drink up as this will not be improving.

2011 vintage

Took 30 minutes to open, opened to rich red fruit with still a bit of tannic structure on the back. A rich enjoyable mouthful with little to no alcohol showing through. Beautiful, and such a surprising delight.

2011 vintage

Showed a bit tannic on PnP, but settled down with a little air. Held together just fine on Day 2. No rush on drinking these down.

2011 vintage

Not quite the depth and lift some High Roads have had, but still had the rich, dark berry fruit and smoke and black pepper you expect from a Paso GSM.

2011 vintage

Loved it, no sharp edges, beautiful fruit, lingering finish. It was worth the wait.

2013 vintage

Overpowered by ribeye, but fantastic with lamb. Big rich mouthfeel, lots of fruit, tobacco, and some sweetness

2013 vintage

Nothing like having your last bottle of the case be one of the best! Great fruit, soft tannins, lingering aftertaste, just plain great.

2011 vintage

Incredible bottle variation. This one needed a Vinturi even after a 2 hour decant.

2011 vintage

Another 3 hour decant. These bottles have ranged from 90-93. All have been good, some have been great.

2011 vintage

This most recent bottle was significantly better than the prior. Great wine

2011 vintage

Definitely ready to drink. Not getting better with each bottle.

2011 vintage

40% Grenache/40% Syrah/20% Mourvedre. Blueberry and red cherry fruit. A more subtle and creamy textured wine right now at the 10 year mark with notes of red licorice, minerals, violets, and spice. Tannins have really mellowed at this point with a nice finish. Probably time to drink up.

2011 vintage

Not the best bottle in the case. Prior bottles were outstanding, this one just great!

2011 vintage

Lovely wine, likely entering peak drinking window. Beautifully crafted and balanced.

2011 vintage

A really tasty West Paso GSM. I would decant 2-3 hours as that is when the blueberry flavors really came out. It started with some VA, which blew off quickly. But really opened up at 3 hours. I had done only a 2 hour decant, 3 is needed. But I would also not age more.

2011 vintage

Two hour double decant. Just a perfectly made wine. Classis west Paso GSM. A real keeper.

2011 vintage

Another great, aged just about right, GSM from Villa Creek. Drink up!

2011 vintage

Still young, but very drinkable. Integrated GSM. Great fruit.

2011 vintage

A beautiful, robust, Cali Rhone style red. A bit of olive brine, saddle leather, and strawberry on the nose. Well rounded and dark berry fruited on the palate. A wonderful pairing with grilled ribeye caps tonight. A wine that really delivered tonight and is drinking in a good spot now.

2013 vintage

Excellent GSM, but I feel not quite as good as the 2012 Jada Hell's Kitchen GSM I had a few nights before. Still, good cocoa and blueberry typical of grapes from this area of Paso. Don't get me wrong, definitely a great wine but not he best I have had. The 2005 version of this wine was fabulous.

2011 vintage

We'd been looking forward to opening this bottle for a while now, and it did not disappoint! PnP and it drank beautifully out of the gate. Blackberry, Black Raspberry, Boysenberry, Black Cherry were prominent on the nose, as well as hints of vanilla, cedar, and black licorice. The palate was black and red fruits, namely Black Cherry with a soft undertone of chocolate covered espresso beans. Lower acidity and medium tannins, with a long silky finish. Kinda wish we had …

2013 vintage

Drinking great, immediate fruit on PnP... might smooth over next year, two, but no reason to wait.

2013 vintage

The evolution of this wine from 5 years ago has been remarkable. Today it is a wonderful wine - I would pick it blind as being from souther Rhone, likely Vacqueyras. Excellent structure, a combination of warm, red Grenache and black tarry overripe plums. Earthy. Beautifully balanced, though finishing a bit hot with clamp-down tannins though only on the end. Fun - makes me wish I had more and I could continue to follow it across the next decade.

2011 vintage

Good color. But the wine was hot too me. Mellowed (sadly) and became much nicer after I dropped in an ice cube. A lot of berry fruit there but not sure it overrides the alcohol for me. Maybe just the wrong night.

2011 vintage

Wow! Top 10 best wines I've had. Ate with steak.

2011 vintage

It may be in a dumb period as there wasn't much going on with this bottle

2011 vintage

Sampled at the winery. 40% Syrah, 40% Mouvedre , 20% Grenache. Excellent nose of dark fruit, grilled meat, deep, rich, young, firm, wet stones, black cherry and black currants. My favorite of the wines offered for tasting.

2013 vintage

Fantastic, tobacco, chocolate, spice, great depth.

2013 vintage

Last I had this it was big, tarry and powerfully tannic. That was a when it was first released - over 3 years ago. This wine was not that at all. Instead it was open and lush and all about flavor - vibrant ripe raspberry and currant, good acidity and soft tannins. The grenache is expressive and seems the dominant flavor. After the wine was open a couple of hours it started to tighten up but until then it was …

2011 vintage

no notes but drinking beautifully. In fact this was for some an introduction to Villa Creek and they were blown away.

2011 vintage

Plum Market Luxury Fall Tasting (Chicago, IL) : How can this supposedly dry red wine be perceived to be sweeter than a Vouvray 1er trie? Tough, tannic, and sickly sweet. A structureless mess.

2013 vintage

Amazing. It may be young but we let this puppy breathe for a couple hours and it stole the show.

2013 vintage

For those into paso style Rhine Rangers, this is a WOW wine. Big dark fruit with a hint of tar, firm tannins coat the palate. Soft finish with layers of petrol, expression and crushed berry goodness. A GSM in a great state of mind right now and truly enjoyed this bottle with friends.

2011 vintage

Deep ruby to purplish in color with a powerful aroma of dark and red fruit, primarily cherry and blackberry. Medium bodied and freshly acidic with medium round tannins (a little chewy) and a medium length finish. The aroma promises more fruit than the palate delivers at first. The flavors are primarily dark fruit--black currant, blueberry, and blackberry--with a little nutmeg. A flavorful wine, with a medium finish. MUCH better the second night, with lots of dark fruit and robust body.

2013 vintage

Very smooth and great fruit and finish

2011 vintage

Deep and lush, but needs some time. There should be some upside here.

2013 vintage

Deep, earthy, tobacco and berries. Inky. Plum finish. Lots of minerals

2013 vintage

Hdr Closing Tasting : Lots of black raspberries, blueberries, white pepper and lavender on the nose. The palate has more fruit than the other stuff at this time. Quite primary. Deep with tight complexity. Fresh acidity. Tannic. Long finish. Needs time but has some upside.

2013 vintage

Whoa, big wine. Very extracted fruit of blackberry and black cherry with rich earth notes, subtle black pepper, tar, and licorice throughout. Thick, chewy tannins, long finish. Needs to sit a couple of years before popping another...fortunately I have a few more!

2013 vintage

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Villa Creek, James Berry Vineyard High Road, Paso Robles

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