- 94 points -

Lovely aromatic intensity, spicy and nuanced on the nose but incredibly well defined on the palate which is crisp and precise with flavours that glide across, so linear and straight. There’s a coolness to the fruit profile and a refreshing juiciness. Concentration and structure with good tannic grip - lots on offer here. A blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 14 months in 89% new French oak and 11% one-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining or filtering.

- 94 points -

A normal blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, and 10% Syrah, the 2018 Optimus reveals a deep purple color as well as beautiful notes of crème de cassis, black licorice, tobacco, chocolate, and a rocky, earthy minerality. It's rich and medium to full-bodied, with beautiful purity and silky tannins. This is a terrific introduction into the wines of l'Aventure and will drink well for over a decade.

- 94 points -

The spice and dark-chocolate character comes through on the nose. Full-bodied with ripe and creamy tannins and plenty of new wood. Vanilla and chocolate in the aftertaste. 56% syrah, 32% cabernet sauvignon and 12% petit verdot. This will be better in a two or three years.

- 94 points -

A gorgeous counterbalance to the classic Cabernet-dominated Napa Cabs that you will find through the Place de Bordeaux this September. Here you get a beautifully exotic edge, with sage and raspberry notes coming from the Syrah on limestone soils filling out the chocolate, menthol and cassis of the Cabernet. Fine tannins but plenty of them, with a restrained but unmissable twist of smoked oak. Michel Rolland consultant. Another Bordeaux link here as owner Stephan Asseo used to own several châteaux, including La Fleur Cardinale. This 2018 is his 20th vintage in Willow Creek.

- 93 points -

Comprenant 49 % de syrah, 41 % de cabernet sauvignon et 10 % de petit verdot, l'Optimus 2017 affiche une robe rubis profond et s'ouvre sur des arômes de fruits frais (mûre sauvage, bleuet écrasé, griotte) relevés de notes de terre limoneuse, de charcuterie, de sel et d'olive. Un nez croquant et très frais. Mi-corsé à corsé, soyeux et intense en bouche, le vin révèle un superbe contraste entre ses nuances de fruits rouges, noirs et bleus, le tout rehaussé de notes d'épices salées. Doté d'une structure très élégante de tanins très finement pixélisés et d'une merveilleuse fraîcheur, il s'achève sur une finale longue et relevée. Merveilleusement discret, il est déjà délicieux et peut être laissé au cellier pendant trois à cinq ans. Période de consommation : 2021 à 2041.

- 93 points -

- 93 points -

Saturated ruby. Sharply focused aromas of cherry and dark berries, exotic spices, vanilla and incense; a smoky mineral top-note builds in the glass. Sappy, sweet and energetic on the palate, showing strong lift and powerful thrust to the spice-tinged cassis, cherry and floral pastille flavors. At once rich and lively, displaying fine definition on an impressively long, gently tannic finish that leaves a suave floral note behind.

- 92 points -

The 2019 Optimus is a blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. It has a medium ruby-purple color and pure aromas of red and black berries with earthy, autumnal accents and a streak of spice. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh, with pretty floral perfume on the long finish.

- 92 points -

A blend of 56% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot aged in 60% new French oak, the 2018 Optimus is the 20th edition of the cuvée and contains a touch less Petit Verdot than usual. It has a deep ruby-purple color and opens perfumed with crushed red and black cherries, dried violet, salumi and bay leaves with bright touches of blood orange peel. The medium to full-bodied palate is layered and surprisingly light on its feet, with a finely defined tannic grain and good freshness, finishing long.

15

Deep purple colour. Tarry and ripe on the nose. Blueberry, olive tapenade and jam dominate both the nose and palate. This is hot and heavy, a full-bodied and high-octane wine. The tannins are a touch drying on the finish.