2020 L'Aventure Cote a Cote

Stephan Asseo, founder and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, came to Paso Robles in California seeking more freedom to express his winemaking ideals than was allowed while working in Bordeaux. Falling in love with the rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, he felt the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influence had the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. So far he's been proven right, and his array of red blends has quickly resulted in wines which have earned high scores and critical acclaim. These are rich and deeply impressive wines from one of the most talented winemakers in America.

Other Reviews....
The 2020 Côte a Côte is a beautiful blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 25% Mourvèdre and one of the most successful wines I tasted from the challenging 2020 vintage. Deep ruby-purple, it offers pure aromas of blackcurrant, boysenberry, tar and pipe tobacco, continually unfolding with each return to the glass. The full-bodied palate offers wave after wave of perfumed fruit and tremendous spicy accents. It's powerful yet harmoniously structured with powdery tannins and seamless acidity, and it offers a very long, detailed finish. Drink 2023 - 2028.
98 points
Erin Brooks - Wine Advocate (Dec 2022)

The 2020 Côte a Côte is youthful and coy, displaying a subtle blend of dusty stone, lavender and wild blueberries. It's pure pleasure on the palate, velvety smooth yet full of energy, with crisp red and black fruits that cascade throughout. This finishes spicy, leaving a primary concentration and subtly grippy tannins that frame the experience without slowing its momentum. The 2020 is an understated beauty that will require some cellaring to blossom fully. Drink 2025-2033.
95 points
Eric Guido - Vinous (Dec 2022)

The 2020 Cote a Cotes checks in as 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 22% Mourvèdre, with the balance Graciano and Viognier, that was brought up in equal parts barrel, concrete, and amphora. It’s a full-bodied, ripe, sexy wine offering fabulous dark fruits as well as subtle violet and orange blossom aromatics. The balance is spot on, it has terrific purity, and it’s another brilliant wine in the making.
95-97 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Floral and lifted on the nose, dark chocolate, violets and rose petals with sweet strawberries and pomegranates. This has a sticky side, balsamic touches but with herbal edges too. Thrilling with a lovely texture, you get the grip and pull from the fine but tense tannins, this has a purity an energy to it with excellent acidity. I like the direction and the push from start to finish. You get the California heat and the stewed strawberry fruit but there is also an elegance and energy to this where it doesn't feel overworked and still has freshness and a juicy appeal. Ageing 14 months in French oak (33% new, 36% one year old, 17% concrete and 15% amphora). Drink: 2025 - 2040.
94 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter

This is delicious, with winemaker and owner Stephan Asseo taking a Rhone blend and making it his own in California. This was a hot vintage, and the flavours are deep and powerful, blackcurrant, redcurrant, mandarin peel, freshly grated ginger, this has quite a punch. 33% new oak barrels, 17% concrete, 15% amphoras, and the rest neutral oak barrels.
94 points
Jane Anson