A spicy and earth-driven nose with aromas of dark cherries, tobacco leaves and cassia bark. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, showing complex notes of mulberries, graphite, blood plums and herbs de Provence. 34% grenache, 31% syrah, 30% mourvedre, 3% graciano and 2% viognier. Will age and soften over time. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.
96 points, James Suckling (Aug 2024)
The 2022 Côte A Côte checks in as a mix of close to equal parts Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, along with splashes of Graciano and Viognier. Brought up in a combination of oak, amphora, and concrete, it shows the more upfront, ripe, perfumed style of the vintage beautifully and offers both red and black fruits, some peppery, meaty, gamey, iron-like nuances, medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and lots of upfront charm. It's another beautifully balanced, layered, already impossible to resist effort.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
The 2022 Côte a Côte is a savory beast, mixing New World fruit with Old World flair, as notes of crushed stone, underbrush, olive and dark chocolate complicate dried blueberries. This is seamlessly silky with juicy acidity and an opulent core of wild berry fruit while maintaining fantastic harmony throughout. A tinge of blood orange adds to the 2022s energetic personality as hints of tart blackberry mingle with sweet tannins, creating a lovely framework. The Côte a Côte is a perfectly balanced blend of 34% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 3% Graciano and 2% Viognier.
94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Jul 2024)
This is a lovely wine, with character and intensity. Bitter chocolate, blueberry, coffee, raspberry, sleek and powerful. Unfiltered and unfined. 33% new French oak for ageing, 19% amphora (moved away from entirely oak in 2015), Chloe Asseo director, Stephan Asseo owner and winemaker, from the Willow Creek district of Paso Robles.
94 points, Jane Anson (Aug 2025)
Extremely floral on the nose, so perfumed and lively. Very expressive and open. Roses, iris, peony with black cherry and plum notes. Seductive and spiced, so smooth and juicy, this really is effortless. Lots of cherry, baked strawberry, blackcurrant and cooling blueberry fruit. Crystalline and pure, this is gorgeous, sapid and mouthwatering but elongated vertically where there’s layers of freshness, fruit and minerality. Some spiced and herbal aspects too. I love this, really excellent and so easy to like. Refined, plenty of character and confidence. Ends lifted and so long, really leaves a moreish aspect. Ageing 18 months; 33 one year old barrels, 33 new French oak, 19% amphora, 13% concrete with malolactic fermentation in barrels. No fining or filtering. 3% Graciano and 2% Viognier - the first time the blend includes white grapes - complete the mix.
94 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jul 2025)
Top Quality Store
