At Hunt Cellars, they specialize in “memorable wines.” Winemaker David Hunt is quite well known in the wine community for his amazing barrel work, and once you’ve tasted one of his bottles, it’s not uncommon to wonder if you should drink anything other than Hunt Cellars. David  is blind, but he still plays the piano and names most of his wines after musical terms. He says that blindness makes his palate and nose extra-sensitive. Maybe that’s why his wines are so good.

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Syrah & Petite Sirah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Que Sirah Syrah

Price: 45-50

Review:

Lovely aromas of plums, pomegranate, and blueberries meld with notes of chocolate, spice, forest floor, and a hint of oak on the nose. The palate comes to life with flavors of pomegranate, blueberry, and cranberry that unfold into suggestions of earth, dark-chocolate, barrel spices, coriander, and vanilla. A nicely balanced wine that’s quite smooth for the blend of varietals, it’s wonderfully layered and rich with a very nice structure.

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins

 

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Syrah, Cabernet, Petite Sirah,Merlot, Zinfandel & Cabernet Franc

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Thriller

Price: 45-50

Review:

Layered aromas of cherries, pomegranate, plums, and pepper rise from a glass. With a sip, flavors of cherry, plum, and pomegranate emerge, with accents of dusty earth, vanilla, and spice. A rich, robust red, with a very nice balance of fruit and spice, it can pair with hearty meals, like bbq, ribs, or a spicy beef dish.

Rating: 93

Character: bright fruit, lively mouthfeel, supple tannins

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Petite Sirah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: “Irresistible”

Price: 35-40

Review:

The bouquet on this wine of cherries, boysenberries, plums, sweet spices, and chocolate is simply divine. Flavors of black cherry, boysenberry, and plum are rounded out by suggestions of clove, nutmeg, and anise on the palate. Supple, layered, and rich with layers, yet also remarkably restraint for a Petite Sirah. Even if you’re not normally a fan of the varietal, this is not to be missed.

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, rich mouthfeel, supple tannins

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Syrah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Hilltop Serenade

Price: 75-80

Review:

Aromatics of plums, blackberries, and cherries meld with notes of chocolate, coffee, and white pepper on the nose. The palate offers delightful flavors flavors of plum, cherry, and pomegranate, complicated by suggestions of spice, coffee, dark-chocolate, clove, and minerals. A fairly bright, yet rather smooth wine, it’s nicely balanced and brilliantly layered. A dream come true for fans of Syrah.

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, bright mouthfeel, dusty tannis

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars 

Grape(s): Syrah

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: Hilltop Serenade

Price: 75-80

Review:

Layered aromatics of plums, pomegranates, blueberries, white pepper, dark-chocolate, and sweet spice greet the senses. A sip reveals flavors of plums, boysenberry, and pomegranate that move into suggestions of white pepper, minerals, coffee, and dark-chocolate. A bright, layered, food-friendly wine, it has some notes of spice and minerals but also nice rich fruit. It’s simply a very well made, complex wine that’s very nice with food

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, bright mouthfeel, plush tannins

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Cabernet & Syrah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Duets

Price: 45-50

Review:

A bouquet of cherries, plums, and blackberries with accents of chocolate, pepper, coffee, and vanilla can be discovered on the nose. Flavors of cherry, plum, and blackberry meld with dark-chocolate and oak on the palate. A smooth wine that’s nicely structured, it’s for fans of reds with ripe, lush fruit.

Rating: 91

Character: dark-fruit, supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Cabernet & Syrah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: Duets

Price: 45-50

Review:

Aromas of cassis, cherries, blackberries, and mocha rise up from a glass. A sip brings forth notes of cherry, blackberry, pomegranate, and minerals. Rich tannins and bright fruit flavors make this a lively, flavorful wine that pairs quite nicely with food.

Rating: 93

Character: bright fruit, lively mouthfeel, rich tannins

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Santa Barbara County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Imagine

Price: 60-65

Review:

Aromas of cherries, plums, and raspberries are complicated by floral suggestions, hints of cola, chocolate, and sweet spice. A lovely tapestry of cherry, strawberry, and plum unfolds into nuances of chocolate, cola, and clove. A very smooth, elegant Pinot that’s rich with flavors. It’s like drinking fruit tinged with chocolate with a very nice structure and balanced acidity. It’s a truly well made wine.

Rating: 96

Character: red fruit, softer mouthfeel, balanced tannins