TNs: 2005 Villa Creek - "Avenger" (Paso Robles, CA)

  • 2005 Villa Creek Avenger - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (8/20/2009)
    – decanted for 1 hour before tasting –
    – tasted non-blind over a couple hours –
    – 65% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache –

NOSE: oak; rich blackberries and loganberries; sandalwood; rubber; salami; a touch alcoholic.

BODY: incredibly fine particulate matter; black-garnet color of medium-deep to deep depth; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: oaky; long finish; glycerin mouthfeel; tannic, but pretty good balancing acidity; dark fruits - blackberry and black cherry; alcohol peaks through some (15.3%); a good bit of Mourvedre earthiness/dirtiness, but not funky; tannins are drying. Good, but not quite as good as a couple past bottles.

B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = (89 pts.)


  • 2005 Villa Creek Avenger - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (8/16/2008)
    – 65% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache –

Beautiful nose: violets and dark fruits. Medium-full bodied; Nice fruit and earth combination on the palate. Medium-long finish.


  • 2005 Villa Creek Avenger - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (5/3/2008)
    – decanted for one hour before consumption –
    – tasted non-blind –

65% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache

NOSE: rich; blueberries; red licorice; some garrigue and underbrush notes too; very light oak; after a few hours confusing notes of bitter orange peel or children’s chewable aspirin emerge.

BODY: fine-particulate matter suspended in the wine; black cherry color of great depth; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: this wine has a very lush mouthfeel, and it has a smoky bitter blackberry flavor with a nice streak of minerality that cuts down the center of the full & seamless palate; it finishes a tad hot; I can really notice the Mourvedre component, and I like it! Yet another winner from Cris and JoAnn Cherry!

Also interesting (and rare) to note: Ashley and I scored this exactly the same.
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92
A: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92

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