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 wine. 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.  

 

Grape(s): Cabernet

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Cab-Ovation

Price: 70-75

Review:

A bouquet of blackberries, cherries, and currants is accented by suggestions of chocolate, oak, vanilla, and sweet spice. A sip unfurls flavors of cassis and blackberry that meld with notes of dark-chocolate, caramel, vanilla, toasty oak, and sweet spice. A wine where rich fruit meets lively, dusty oak, it’s best with food and will age wonderfully. Let it breathe for an hour and enjoy with steak.

Rating: 96

Character: dark fruit, full mouthfeel, rich tannins

 

Grape(s): Cabernet

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: Beachmark

Price: 35-40

Review:

Aromas of blackberries, black cherries, and cassis are rounded out by notes of vanilla and cedar on the nose. Lush flavors of cherry and currant flow into hints of sweet spices, vanilla, and toasty oak on the palate. The wine offers elegant fruit wrapped up in oak and plush tannins with nice layers and classic flavors.

Rating: 94

Character: dark fruit, supple mouthfeel, fine tannins

 

Grape(s): Merlot

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Unforgettable

Price: 40-45

Review:

Aromatics of cherries, plums, blackberries, and chocolate greet the senses. A sip reveals notes of cherry, currant, and blackberry with accents of oak and vanilla. A rich and dark Merlot that’s nicely structured, it holds up like a Cab.

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, rich mouthfeel, supple tannins

 

Grape(s): Cabernet & Syrah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Duets

Price: 45-50

Review:

Rich dark fruit aromas combine with hints of chocolate, pepper, coffee, and vanilla on the nose. Flavors of cherry, plum, and blackberry are complicated by suggestions of dark-chocolate, roast coffee, and oak. A smooth but nicely structured wine, it’s well-suited for food or fans of generous ripe fruit.

Rating: 91

Character: dark-fruit, supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins

 

Grape(s): Cabernet & Syrah

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: Duets

Price: 45-50

Review:

Notes of cassis, cherries, blackberries, and mocha rise from a glass. A sip offers flavors of cherry, blackberry, and pomegranate, along with dusty minerals. A wine with rich tannins and bright fruit flavors, it makes for a lively, flavorful wine.

Rating: 93

Character: bright fruit, lively mouthfeel, rich tannins

Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Encore

Price: 75-80

Review:

Aromas of cherry and plum open up into suggestions of chocolate, vanilla, and sweet spice on the nose. Flavors of blackberries, cherries, and plums dominate the palate with hints of dark-chocolate, oak, and black licorice adding a bit of complexity. A fairly smooth wine with rich tannins, it’s for fans of reds with generous fruit flavors.

Rating: 92

Character: dark fruit, supple mouthfeel, rounding tannins

Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2006

Special Designation: Encore IV

Price: 75-80

Review:

A bouquet of black cherries, plums, chocolate, and sweet spice greets the senses. A sip reveals flavors of cherries and blackberries that flow into notes of dark-chocolate, oak, earth, cinnamon, and clove. The wine is quite smooth and rounded out by oak with sweet spices providing a few nice layers.

Rating: 92

Character: dark fruit, plush tannins, softer mouthfeel

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Merlot & Cabernet Franc

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Red Velvet

Price: 75-80

Review:

Aromatics of cherries, plums, and cassis come together beautifully with notes of caramel, coffee, and cedar on the nose. Flavors of plum, cherry, and currant are accented by suggestions of vanilla, barrel spice, and dusty oak. A smooth, rich, layered, and balanced wine, it’s for fans of complex but elegant reds that are ideal for sipping.

Rating: 94

Character: red fruit, supple mouthfeel, plush tannins

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Cabernet

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Cloud 9

Price: 75-80

Review:

The nose offers aromas of plum, cherry, and blackberry along with hints of chocolate. Flavors of cherry, cassis, and plum emerge on the palate beside hints of chocolate and oak. A smooth, softer, more elegant Cab, it’s ideal for those who prefer to sip their reds before dinning.

Rating: 94

Character: dark fruit, softer mouthfeel, balanced tannins

 

Winery: Hunt Cellars

Grape(s): Cabernet

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2007

Special Designation: Cask 21

Price: 125-130

Review:

Delightful aromas of black cherries, plums, and currants meld with notes of chocolate and oak. A sip unfurls lush flavors of cherry, plum, and blackberry accented by suggestions of oak, dark-chocolate, and anise. A wine with nice structure, an inviting nose, and excellent balanced, it’s a fine example of just how good Paso Cab can be.

Rating: 95

Character: dark fruit, supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins