As we explored Tin City in Paso Robles and we were thrilled to discover an amazing winery called Sans Liege Wines!
After starting our tour of Tin City with a tasting at Field Recordings, we walked a few blocks to another winery with a great reputation: Sans Liege Wines. The arrival experience was amazing, from the approach across a broad timber bridge to the tastefully landscaped outdoor tasting area, and on to the tasting room inside. We entered the tasting room to find a sunny color scheme of yellows and golds, with an long, impressive bar along one wall. We chose one of the seated tasting opportunities and made ourselves comfortable. Wine guide Michelle set us up with tasting menus and wine glasses, starting us off with their 2019 Call to Arms. This bright and refreshing wine was blended from Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. We enjoyed the key lime pie meringue and honey notes leading to a pleasant peachy finish.
Our next taste was their 2018 Pickpocket, made from Grenache fruit harvested from five different Central Coast vineyards. We found this wine bright and engaging, with cherry cola and clove notes leading to a grassy finish. This is a clear example of the best from the Central Coast. Michelle next poured a wine that she said that they had been producing for nine years. This 2018 Offering was blended from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. We thought that this was a very drinkable, food friendly wine with dancing fruit notes and a faint finish.
Our next taste was a favorite with all of us, their 2018 Adversary, a 100% Mourvedre wine. Made with fruit from the highlands of Santa Barbara, we loved the funky mushroom aroma and the punchy flavors of Mourvedre fruit with tobacco and leather notes. There was a lot to like about this wine, and we couldn’t wait to pair the Adversary with our next steak dinner. This wine led off our “Take Home” list by popular acclaim. The biggest question was how many bottles should be purchased to ensure that at least one bottle make it back to our home. A great problem!
We completed our tasting with their 2017 Reserve Syrah 470. The name reflects the fruit: a Syrah clone 470, grown on the Central Coast. This was a magnificent example of a Syrah, with happy aromas of smoke and elderberry and a luscious parade of dark fruit flavors leading to a lingering finish that drew us back for another sip. Something else for the “Take Home” list! This makes a great sipping wine, but we couldn’t wait to pair the smoke and spice of the wine with a thick, roasted pork chop. With some daylight left to enjoy, we thanked Michelle and purchased out wine. Off into the sunny Paso Robles afternoon!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
