After we visited Indigené, I hurried down to Parrish Family Vineyards, although I was late for our appointment. They forgave me!
Lynlee, the Assistant Tasting Room manager, was also the pourer and historian and took us down the road of Parrish Family history.
She began with the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, which was clear, bright, and intensely aromatic and without the cat pee that’s a signature feature of many New Zealand SBs. It’s made from all Paso fruit, and we agreed that it’s a wine brimming with complexity and a deliciousness that’s far above its $22.00 price point.
The next wine was 2013 Silken Blanc, which is a blend of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Viognier. The Chard is from Monterey, and the Viognier is sourced from Paso. Green apple and citrus blossoms on the nose and the palate is flowery and luscious. This is an amazing blend which I immediately fell in love with. Which is why it’s now in my white wine fridge!
The 2016 Rosé is a virtual twin of some of the best of Cotes de Provence. Made from grapes sourced at their Templeton estate vineyard, it has the best of what you can expect from a Rosé – watermelon, strawberries, rose petals, and in keeping with its Côtes du Provence character, a refreshing, minerally finish. Ditto on the wine fridge thingie!
The 2014 Zinfandel is an interesting wine. Like other wineries we visited, they are scaling back on the power and jamminess of the “usual” Paso Robles Zinfandel, and have released a nuanced wine with depth, complexity, and flavor.
Blackberries, earth, nutmeg and black tea were just some of the character that the 2013 Petite Sirah displayed. It was, in a word, luscious. Surprisingly smooth and velvety for a Petite Sirah, it was deep, dark, and brooding, and didn’t do our teeth any favors.
One of the interesting things about this wine is the label. The Parrish family had the first post office box in Paso Robles, and the label of this wine is marked with PO Box 1. Imagine!
The 93 point (Wine Enthusiast) 2013 Reserve Silken is a blend of 58% Cab and 42% Petite Sirah. One of their signature wines, it is loaded with blackberries, dark fruit, plum, and just a hint of baking chocolate. The tannins are silky as is the mouthfeel. A truly delicious wine that’s also found its way into my wine fridge!
The last wine we tasted was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which received 91 points from Wine Enthusiast. It is a wonderful blend of fruit and savory, including blueberries, tobacco, and currants, and the tannins are firm but won’t hurt you.
By the time we got to the end of the tasting, I was completely enamored. As I’ve stated before in this series, I’m wondering how I could have missed these great wines. There were no bad or mediocre wines here. Each one was terrific, and you can be sure that I’ll be back. That sabbatical thingie that’s been stewing in the back of my mind is becoming more and more essential!
