In case you missed it.  The Highly Rated Paul Lato’s “Rhône” releases are here – VERY LIMITED

The much-anticipated releases of Paul Lato’s Rhône releases (Syrah & Grenache) have arrived, and they are stunning!  As always, Paul Lato’s “Rhône” releases are the smallest productions of his portfolio and sell out even faster than his highly-rated “Burgundy” offerings a.k.a Chardonnay & Pinot Noirs.

Paul Lato 2020 Syrah IL Padrino Bien Nacido 98 Points
Retail $110.00 GGWC $99.99 

This has been one of the best California Syrahs for years in a row. This wine will put many of the big Rhone names to shame! I only get a few cases of this gem, so jump on it NOW, as this will sell out fast! This wine gets an average of 96-100 points every release!

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “The 2020 Syrah Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard also saw a touch of stems (5%) and was aged 19 months in two-thirds new French oak. Coming from a cooler site, it has a deep ruby/plum color and a great nose of ripe blackberry and mulberry fruits, notes of charred meat, iron, and baking spices, full-bodied richness, ripe and integrated tannins, and a great, great finish. Out of the two Syrahs, this beauty is a touch more balanced and elegant and has slightly more mid-palate density. Regardless, both are brilliant, singular wines that readers will love.”

Vinous 96 Points: “The 2020 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Il Padrino is a brute. Most of the wines in this range are quite racy, but the Padrino is simply impenetrable at this stage. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mocha, gravel, dried fruit herbs, and menthol are some of the many notes that develop. There is some whole cluster influence, which adds complexity”

Paul Lato says: “Once again, Bien Nacido Syrah produces one of our most complex and intriguing wines, creating harmony between many worlds of flavor. Ripe blueberry, lavender, incense, and leather all emerge as a symphony of aromas from this full-bodied, structured wine. Deep, rich, fabulously concentrated, and pure on the palate, it stays tight and compact, with notable precision and length. Whether it’s a few minutes in the glass or several years in the cellar, this wine becomes increasingly layered with time.”

Paul Lato 2020 Syrah “Cinematique” Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez 97 Points
Retail $110.00 GGWC $99.99 

This is in my book one of “THE” best Cinematique to date bar-none! I firmly believe that this wine is equal to all of Paul’s great previous releases, if not better!

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Moving to the two Syrah releases, the 2020 Syrah Cinematique Larner Vineyard comes from a site in Ballard Canyon and was 95% destemmed and brought up in 40% new French oak. It's one ripe, sexy Syrah, with tons of ripe blackberries and black raspberry-like fruit as well as ground herbs, pepper, violets, and spicy aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied red with beautiful purity of fruit, a layered, ripe, opulent mouthfeel, some firmer underlying tannins, and a big finish. It needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon and is another magical, balanced, opulent wine from Lato to drink over the coming decade.”

Vinous 96 Points: “The 2020 Syrah Larner Vineyard CInematique is so alluring. A touch of Viognier and a dollop of whole clusters bring out a striking aromatic presence to play off a host of dark blueberry, lavender, menthol, and spice. This is one of the most complex, riveting wines I have ever tasted from Paul Lato. Impressive!”

Paul Lato says: “This Blockbuster Syrah has a larger-than-life presence in the glass. Plums, blackberries, blueberries, ground pepper, and olive notes all flow to a powerful, full-bodied Syrah that has a luxurious, layered character. Fine and elegant tannins lead to a long, seamless finish, a true expression of the beautiful 2019 vintage. After you finish this bottle, you’ll be asking for an encore.”

Paul Lato 2020 Grenache “Ora Labore” Bien Nacido 94 Points
Retail $85.00 GGWC $79.99

This is a big, bold Grenache that offers lots of cassis and black raspberry fruit to go with underlying notes of wet gravel, peppery herbs, licorice, and pepper. Full in body, seamless, elegant and multi-dimensional on the palate, with a weightless mouthfeel, its acidity is nicely integrated and it never puts a foot wrong. Given its balance and overall purity, it’s a killer drink today, but it will evolve beautifully.
 
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: The Grenache Ora et Labora Bien Nacido Vineyard isn’t far off the Lumiere Larner Vineyard and certainly has a similar level of polish and elegance. However, there’s more minerality and marine-like influence. Black cherries, peppery herbs, crushed stone, and floral notes all show on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, structured, and concentrated. Where the Larner is up-front and ready to go, this is going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age. It should still be drinking nicely at age 10 as well.

Paul Lato says: “This wine has a seductive nose of kirsch, potpourri, and white pepper with touches of garrigue and dried lavender. The palate is full-bodied, rich, and concentrated with notes of blackberry preserves and layers of spice. With a focused style and a structured backbone, this wine finishes with smooth flavors of cranberry and vanilla. Lay this bottle down for 2 to 3 years and it will truly shine.”

Paul Lato 2020 Space Cadet Syrah/Grenache Blend Larner Vineyard 97 Points
Retail $99.99 GGWC $94.99 

Vinous 97 Points: The 2020 Space Cadet is the star in this range from Paul Lato. Silky and aromatic, the 2020 is hauntingly beautiful from the get-go. Inky red/purplish fruit, sage, cedar, tobacco, incense, and dried flowers are some of the many notes that race across the palate. All the elements are so well balanced. Space Cadet is mostly Syrah, but the Grenache really seems to drive the profile today.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “A 65/35 split of Syrah and Grenache, the Space Cadet is a rich, structured, beautifully textured red from Lato that offers classic Syrah notes of masculine dark fruits, crushed stone, iodine, and ground pepper, with just hints of flowers and rose petal in the background. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s beautifully textured, with building tannins, plenty of freshness, and a great finish.”

The wine was aged for 24 months in 20% new French oak. Still youthfully coiled and with lots of latent layers, the Syrah/Grenache Space Cadet has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and scents of cassis, blueberry jam, warm chocolate, baked blackberries, black cherries, and grilled meats with nuances of crushed stone, warm baking spice, cracked pepper, flowers, and red fruit sparks. Full-bodied, dense, rich, and hedonistic in the mouth, it gives up luscious fruits, spices, and chocolate box notions, with substantial, finely pixelated tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and flavorful. Yowza! This is only made in exceptional years.
 
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Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation