Feedback on Itinerary for Trip to Santa Ynez Valley and Paso Robles

mmoyer · March 13, 2019, 5:26pm

Check out Nicora and Law. Law is the more elegant of the two. Wonderful facility.

J_Rock · March 14, 2019, 8:53pm

Thank you SO much for all of your great suggestions! Unfortunately, I can’t fit everything into this trip, so I’ll have to save some places for the next time I drive up.

My one remaining question is: if you had to choose between Turtle Rock and Herman Story, which would you choose?

FYI: For our Paso days, it looks like we’ll be doing:

Sunday:

Close Solene (private wine + cheese)
Tablas Creek (collector’s vertical tasting)
Booker
L’Aventure
Herman Story or Turtle Rock (from about 4:15 - 5:00, when they close)
Justing downtown tasting room if we’re still standing (because they are open until 6)

Monday (before we head home):

Torrin
Epoch

lleichtman · March 14, 2019, 10:59pm

Stay away from Sarloos, just a rip off. I always recommend Casa Dumetz in Los Almos as Sonja makes really nice wines.

RehbergK · June 13, 2019, 4:22pm

When you say Booker is not that great of a tasting, are you saying that the wine isn’t good (I haven’t had any yet) or that the actual tasting they offer isn’t anything special? Ledge looks cool (and their bottles are priced nicely). I’ll be in PR for my birthday, so maybe I can try to get a birthday tasting.

Sounds like a great trip! My wife and I love Paso but it’s been a few years. Not an expert but here are my quick takes:

Booker wines are excellent and we enjoyed our tasting there a number of years ago. It was quiet but we were there in the off season. L’Av and Epoch are great. Those three all produce consistent 95+ wines.

Dauo has some excellent wines and a beautiful tasting room with one of the best views in Paso. If you can fit a stop in there at the end of the day for the sunset it’s worthwhile. I wouldn’t go to Paso without stopping at Turley. We liked Adelaida and Lone Madrone which are moderately priced and on the small side providing a more personal experience.

We weren’t that impressed by Tablas Creek, seemed tour bus-y, although the Esprit is very good.

If Tablas Creek is tour bus-y, what would Dauo be? The winery equivalent of a Creflo Dollar revival…just show me the money!!! They seem to be quite proud of their overly extracted goop for sure. Otherwise, just looking through this thread for ideas since I’ll be in Paso next month.

Matt_G · June 17, 2019, 5:52am

I agree with the comments on Booker. I would not make a decision on Booker wines based on what they pour in the tasting room. The tasting room wines are at the bottom of the portfolio.