2019 L'Aventure Winery Estate Optimus Proprietary Red

The 2019 L'Aventure Winery Estate Optimus Proprietary Red is a bold, estate-grown blend from Paso Robles that marries Rhône richness with Bordeaux structure. Crafted from 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot, it captures the power of Paso’s sun-drenched hillsides while retaining remarkable freshness and balance. This cuvée reflects winemaker Stephan Asseo’s philosophy of freedom from traditional appellation rules, offering his personal interpretation of Willow Creek District terroir.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Optimus shows a vibrant medium ruby-purple hue with excellent clarity and viscosity, hinting at both concentration and elegance. The nose opens with pure aromas of red and black berries—think blackberry, black cherry and red currant—woven together with earthy, autumnal notes of forest floor, dried leaves and warm soil. Subtle accents of baking spice, cracked pepper, graphite and a gentle floral lift add layers of complexity as it aerates. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied yet finely poised, with a fresh, energetic core of dark fruit framed by grainy, well-integrated tannins. Syrah brings plush texture and spice, Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure and cassis, while Petit Verdot adds color, floral notes and a firm, savory backbone. A bright line of acidity keeps the wine lively, and a delicate violet and dried herb perfume lingers on the long, refined finish. While already approachable with some air, this vintage has the depth, balance and tannic structure to evolve beautifully over 8–12 years, gaining more tertiary complexity and silkier texture with time in the cellar.

Production
L'Aventure’s estate lies west of Paso Robles in the Willow Creek District, an area often dubbed California’s “Rhône” thanks to its rolling hills, cooling ocean influence and distinctive soils of stones and calcareous limestone. These well-drained, rocky slopes naturally limit yields and concentrate flavor, while warm days and cool nights allow grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness without sacrificing freshness. The fruit for Optimus is harvested by hand at optimal maturity, with careful parcel selection to ensure only the best lots make the final blend. In the cellar, Stephan Asseo applies a Bordeaux-trained, yet creatively flexible approach: gentle extraction during fermentation to preserve purity of fruit and fine tannin, followed by élevage in French oak to integrate the Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot into a seamless, estate-driven wine that speaks clearly of Paso Robles terroir.

Food & Serving
The 2019 Optimus is a versatile, gastronomic red that excels with richly flavored, savory dishes. It pairs beautifully with grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, braised short ribs, duck breast, game birds, and hearty stews, as well as roasted root vegetables, wild mushroom dishes and aged hard cheeses. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both its fruit and freshness. Young bottles benefit from 1–2 hours in a decanter to soften the tannins and fully release the wine’s floral and spicy aromatics; older bottles will need a gentler, shorter decant to separate sediment while preserving finesse.

Producer
Founded by French winemaker Stephan Asseo, L'Aventure Winery has become one of the most influential and sought-after estates in Paso Robles. After 17 years crafting wines in Bordeaux, Asseo relocated to California in search of greater creative freedom, choosing the rugged, limestone-rich hills west of Paso for their unique potential. From this terroir, L'Aventure has helped redefine the region’s reputation, proving that Paso Robles can deliver wines of power, freshness and world-class sophistication. The estate’s Syrah- and Cabernet-based blends, including Estate Optimus and Estate Cuvée, routinely receive very high critical acclaim and are produced in limited quantities, with only a small percentage exported worldwide. L'Aventure is now regarded as a benchmark producer of Paso Robles, and a reference point for expressive, terroir-driven, premium blends from California.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.