Five wines submitted received point scores in the 90s, and one was just awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition!
As winner of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sweepstakes for Best Red Wine, family-owned Écluse Wines continues to receive accolades and awards for their limited production, handcrafted wines produced from their very own Lock Vineyard. Just recently the boutique winery received point scores in the 90s for five of their wines from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
This was only the second time that the winery had submitted the varietals to Wine Enthusiast and they’re thrilled with the results! Check out these winning varietals:
Highlighting the remarkable fruit produced by their own vineyard, the winery’s 2013 Lock Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon received an enthusiastic 94 points from the magazine and will also be featured in the September online issue. Incredibly rich in color with flavors of black currants, dark fruit and a hint of espresso, this classically structured Paso Robles Cab is stunningly complex with a decadently smooth finish.
Additional Accolades:
Double Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal – Cab Shootout, Affairs of the Vine
Blended for a beautiful balance, the eclectic 2013 Improv received the phenomenal score of 93 points and will be featured in the August online issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. This exciting blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Petite Sirah has a gorgeous purple hue and an enticing nose of dark fruit and vanilla. The long, lingering finish delights the palate with layers of red plum, black cherry and just a hint of spice.
Additional Accolades:
Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Using a their award winning Lock Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as a foundation for this blend, it’s no surprise this elegant and sophisticated Bordeaux blend was honored with 92 points. Écluse Wines 2013 Ensemble begins with aromas of vanilla, black currant and brown sugar and delights the palate with notes of blackberry, cherry and a smooth, seductive finish. Look for a feature in Wine Enthusiast’s online August issue.
Adding to the excitement over Wine Enthusiast’s point score, 2013 Ensemble was just awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition! This is the largest international wine competition in the U.S. with judges tasting over 4,600 entries. The Double Gold designation (94-100 points) is awarded to the very few entries that receive unanimous gold medal ratings from the judges.
Additional Accolades:
Best of Class – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal – Toast of the Coast Wine Competition
Also featured in the August online edition of Wine Enthusiast, the 2013 Rendition is a classic Rhone blend that continues to impress, scoring 92 points from the magazine. A rendition of the traditional “GSM” Rhone-style blend, the wine is anchored with Ecluse’s amazing Estate Syrah and emboldened by the addition of Grenache and Mourvédre. The savory nose entices with aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and spice and continues on the palate with hints of dark cherry for a long, lingering finish.
Additional Accolades:
Double Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal, Best Red Rhone Blend – Toast of the Coast Wine Competition
For this release, Écluse Wines blended their very own Lock Vineyard Petite Sirah with Petite Sirah sourced from the Reaugh’s Sereno Vista Vineyard. The results? An extraordinary 90 points (Cellar Selection) from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and a feature in July’s online edition. This velvety rich wine begins with black plums, blackberry and caramel with a spice on the mid-palate for a long, lingering finish.
Additional Accolades:
Silver Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
To experience Écluse’s estate-grown wines firsthand, visit their barrel room for wine tasting the old fashioned way. You may even find Steve, proprietor and winemaker, with the wine thief offering barrel samples! Located at 1520 Kiler Canyon Road, they’re just a few minutes from downtown Paso Robles.
Tasting room hours are Friday – Sunday from 11:00am – 4:00pm. Reservations are required for groups of 7-10, please contact Écluse for availability: 805.238.4999. Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/EcluseWines
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