Great wine without great food is experiencing half of the pleasure. The best memories begin by gathering family and friends and sharing our wine. In each bottle you’ll find great flavors that will turn your dinner into a joyful celebration.

2002 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
PASO ROBLES

237 cases produced) Although young, our 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is seductive and a little precocious…one minute, cherries and smoke and the next, currant, cocoa and cedar. The saturated deep purple-black hue is met with a nose of blackberry, black cherry, cigar box and spicy oak with secondary nuances of vanilla, clove and coffee…all hints of the power within! The charm of this wine allows enormous complexity. The exceptional depth and structure is followed by a long licorice and fruit finish with soft, chewy tannins. Our Cabernet is very appealing to drink now and the mouthfeel and tannins promise beautiful evolution. Its sophistication should only get more complex with time. The smooth textures make our Cab a perfect match with pan roasted North American Halibut or Bacon Wrapped Scallops. When I think of pairing our Cab I think of grilled Veal Chops with Rosemary or a thick juicy Steak smothered with onions and Blue Cheese. I would also pair with Lamb, Pork Loin and seasonal game dishes especially when prepared with herbs.

…I almost forgot! When you think Cabernet, you have to think anything Chocolate!!! Enjoy!

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2002 MERLOT
PASO ROBLES

The 2002 vintage provided excellent conditions for fully ripening our fruit. Warm late season temperatures ensured deep pigmentation and supple tannins in the grape skins. A traditional light crushing followed by tank fermentation at moderately warm temperatures and twice-daily pumpovers allowed full extraction of flavor and color components. Barreled immediately following the pressing of the must, this Merlot resided in a combination of French and American Oak for a period of a year and a half. During this crucial aging time, the wine developed additional aromas of vanilla and cigarbox, lending a wonderful complement to the berry-like fruit qualities. Racked from barrel in Spring of 2004, this Merlot was judiciously blended with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon to impart blackberry fruit notes and to provide additional tannin to firm up the structure of the mid- palate. Whether drinking the wine now, or bottle aging it for several years, this Merlot will generously reward the consumer with its lush flavors and soft textured, deep berry richness.

Bottled unfined and unfiltered, this Merlot offering, our first ever, was made in small quantities with just 362 cases produced.

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2003 MERLOT
PASO ROBLES

This vintage produced thick-skinned grapes that give concentrated flavors, inky color and extracted tannins which distinguish the vineyard. There is a flamboyant nose of blackberries, black cherries, cocoa and spices. The lush full-bodied flavors of the fruit are enhanced by months of careful oak barrel aging which allow for sweet vanilla and spicy oak nuances. You’ll find this wine voluptuously textured, juicy, with well-integrated tannins and is a joy to drink! The mouth feel is relatively soft but fleshy and round on the palate. You can enjoy this wine with your favorite meats, hearty pastas or herb rich dishes. It is a celebration worthy to be poured at any occasion…perfect for Party or Picnic! The full-bodied flavors will stand up to all grilled meats, kabobs, herb crusted roast turkey and stuffed veal chops. Don’t limit yourself, try our Merlot with Grilled Salmon with Soy or your favorite vegetarian fare…Yummy with Grilled Portobello Mushrooms!

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2003 SYRAH
PASO ROBLES

We did not filter this wine in fear that this would rob it of its soul and character and in not doing so the grapes gave up the ghost! What resulted is super depth of fruit, excellent ripeness and a rich aromatic dimension to accompany the classic flavor profiles with deep, dark, gorgeous color! There are smoky, toasty, plum and cherry aromas with peppery, leathery spicy flavors with chewy tannins. The ripe fruit is nicely layered on the palate…smooth and easy. The full blown, highly expressive winemaking style allows for the intensity, structure, depth and ageability of the wine. Aussie’s prefer Grilled Kangaroo with their Shiraz, as they call Syrah, Down Under but we would recommend a thick grilled peppery Steak. The wines structure and rich, saturated berried fruit makes for a powerful juxtaposition to the richness and char of the Steak. The primal, earthy flavors of our Syrah also beg for Grilled Lamb, Duck or Venison with New Potatoes. How about a rare cut of juicy Prime Rib with lots of crusty bread? Bon Appetite!

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2005 AFFINITY
PASO ROBLES

Our first offering is a rich, seductive blend that was handcrafted from select barrels from our Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot programs. (Although, I will admit, 2 of those barrels of Merlot were surrendered to a good friend for 2 barrels of his acclaimed Zinfandel…We just don’t grow a Zin; yet!) What resulted is something beautiful that you are naturally drawn to! The ‘o5 Affinity is a harmonious blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Zinfandel. The bottle also exhibits our new label, a more sophisticated, elegant and even sexier look for RiverStar. Continuous improvement…to personify the character, elegance and style of our vineyards!

Affinity is a classic showing of the precision, balance, concentration and finesse that exemplify Paso Robles at its best! Firm, yet offering a tasty mix of blueberry, with zesty wildberry and cherry cola notes with lots of spice to accentuate the floral scents on top, providing excellent structure, depth and range of flavors. The ending is lengthy, with a firm flavorful band of tannins.

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2004 SYRAH
PASO ROBLES

We did not filter this wine in fear that this would rob it of its soul and character and in not doing so the grapes gave up the ghost! What resulted is super depth of fruit, excellent ripeness and a rich aromatic dimension to accompany the classic flavor profiles with deep, dark, gorgeous color! There are smoky, toasty, plum and cherry aromas with peppery, leathery spicy flavors with chewy tannins. The ripe fruit is nicely layered on the palate…smooth and easy. The full blown, highly expressive winemaking style allows for the intensity, structure, depth and ageability of the wine. Aussie’s prefer Grilled Kangaroo with their Shiraz, as they call Syrah, Down Under but we would recommend a thick grilled peppery Steak. The wines structure and rich, saturated berried fruit makes for a powerful juxtaposition to the richness and char of the Steak. The primal, earthy flavors of our Syrah also beg for Grilled Lamb, Duck or Venison with New Potatoes. How about a rare cut of juicy Prime Rib with lots of crusty bread? Bon Appetite!

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2004 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
PASO ROBLES

This Cabernet Sauvignon was created in a style that exemplifies the best of both richness and elegance. At Harvest there was a traditional light crush and open fermentation with manual punch downs, three times daily, for full extraction of color and flavor components. Lightly pressed then barrel aged for close to two years in French and American Oak. A small blend with our Merlot balanced out fruit profiles and firmed up the structure of the mid-palate. The charm of this wine allows enormous complexity.

Our 2004 Vintage exhibits a tapestry of robust flavors with layers of rich extracted blackberry, black cherry, currant and hints of plum with a savory, potent oak flavor in excellent proportion with the wine. Our ‘o4 Cab reveals extra depth and concentration on the velvety finish.

Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a new, more sophisticated, elegant and even sexier look for RiverStar, to give our wine the character, elegance and style you demand!

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2004 MERLOT
PASO ROBLES

(367 cases produced) This vintage produced thick-skinned grapes that give concentrated flavors, inky color and extracted tannins which distinguish the vineyard. There is a flamboyant nose of blackberries, black cherries, cocoa and spices. The lush full-bodied flavors of the fruit are enhanced by months of careful oak barrel aging which allow for sweet vanilla and spicy oak nuances. You’ll find this wine voluptuously textured, juicy, with well-integrated tannins and is a joy to drink! The mouth feel is relatively soft but fleshy and round on the palate.

You can enjoy this wine with your favorite meats, hearty pastas or herb rich dishes. It is a celebration worthy to be poured at any occasion…perfect for Party or Picnic! The full-bodied flavors will stand up to all grilled meats, kabobs, herb crusted roast turkey and stuffed veal chops. Don’t limit yourself, try our Merlot with Grilled Salmon with Soy or your favorite vegetarian fare…Yummy with Grilled Portobello Mushrooms!

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2005 SAUVIGNON BLANC
PASO ROBLES

The extraordinary character of this wine is produced from carefully selected estate fruit. The knockout bouquet offers intense aromas of melons, herbs and rich fruit. This vibrant wine has distinctive Passion Fruit and Citrus flavors. In the mouth the wine exhibits a rich multi-dimensional texture with tremendous intensity and crisp acidity. There is a beautiful balance of zesty acidity and clean, fresh, fruity flavors which echo nicely on the lively finish. We invite you to enjoy this wine as a wonderful accompaniment to Grilled Swordfish or Herb Roasted Chicken. The crisp, delicate taste enhances the fresh flavors of the dish. You also have to try our Sauvignon Blanc with shell fish, oysters or fresh water fish with cream based sauces…Just try it!!! You’ll find it more penetrating and refreshing than most Chardonnay’s! This wines herbal notes, crispness and grace also pair well with meaty stews with spring veggies and herbs or long cooked beef, lamb, veal or pork.

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