Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Issue 165: November/December 2012

2010 Law Estate Wines Audacious Paso Robles

(44% grenache, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 20% syrah and 10% petite sirah):  Inky ruby.  Highly aromatic scents of blackberry, cherry-cola, pipe tobacco and potpourri.  Supple, gently sweet and seamless, offering dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of candied rose.  Closes on a floral note, with strong punch and lingering spiciness. 90

2010 Law Estate Wines Beguiling Paso Robles

(94% grenache and 6% syrah):  Opaque ruby.  Bright, mineral-laced aromas of red berry preserves, rose and star anise.  Fully ripe but elegant too, displaying excellent clarity to its seamless raspberry and cherry flavors.  Takes a turn toward darker fruits with air while maintaining its finesse, finishing with very good energy, mounting sweetness and gentle tannic bite.  Winemaker Scott Hawley told me that this wine weighs in at 16.4% alcohol but because the vines are planted at "super-high altitude" there will always be buffering acidity to keep things in check.  91

2010 Law Estate Wines Interpid Paso Robles

(made from 100% syrah):  Opaque purple.  Deeply pitched aromas of dark berry liqueur and cherry-cola, with licorice and Indian spice notes adding complexity.  Smooth, palate-coating black and blue fruit flavors show impressive depth, opening slowly to reveal floral and bitter chocolate qualities.  Fine-grained tannins build with air and carry through a long, sweet, penetrating finish.  This is still a baby.  91(+?)

2010 Law Estate Wines Sagacious Paso Robles

(44% grenache, 42% syrah and 14% mourvedre; 16.1% alcohol):  Glass-staining ruby.  A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark fruits, violet and pipe tobacco, with a smoky overtone.  Lush and expansive but lively too, offering sweet blackberry and cassis flavors that pick up a tangy quality with air.  Silky tannins add shape to the long, spicy, slightly warm finish.  90