Turtle Rock Claude's Cuvee 2021

Red and black plums, ground pepper, lavender, sappy herbs, and floral notes all define the 2021 Claude's Cuvée, another rich, full-bodied, powerful wine from winemaker Don Burns that stays incredibly pure, flawlessly balanced, and elegant. It has a beautiful opulence as well as no hard edges and one sensational finish. The blend is 52% Syrah, 31% Graciano, 10% Mataro, and 7% Grenache, aged 22 months in 70% new French oak, and it's all from the G2 Vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles. It has 10-15 years of prime drinking ahead of it.

The 2021 Claude's Cuvée is a blend of 52% Syrah, 31% Graciano, 10% Mataro and 7% Grenache matured for 22 months in 70% new French oak. It has a perfume of wild berry jam, charcuterie, orange peel, aged balsamic and loads of spicy accents. The full-bodied palate is light on its feet with fine, powdery tannins and a focused spine of acidity, and it has a long finish with tremendous spicy layers. Its fruit is somewhat coiled from its recent bottling, but it opens dramatically as it airs in the glass, so give it 3-5+ years in bottle to unwind. 344 cases were made.

Darkly alluring, the 2021 Claude's Cuvee tempts the imagination with an old-world bouquet of flowery undergrowth, crushed rocks, white pepper, olive and musky black currants. It's soothingly round with silky textures offset by mineral-inflected wild berry fruits and a bitter tinge of clove that adds form toward the close. Grippy tannins mount through the finish as mentholated freshness lingers on and hints of licorice fade. In 2021 the Claude's Cuvee hails entirely from the G2 vineyard.