Gary Eberle is the GodFather of the Paso Robles area and highly respected. Started here when no one else was here, and the first to plant Zinfandel. He bought the property for $50 an acre, and now some sell fruit off of acres for thousands a ton! Had the opportunity to meet him in person when he came in for harvest. Eberle means small bore in German and it’s their mascot and they are featured all over in statues. Gary’s family was German and moved to Pennsylvania and then came here. We were able to quickly relate since we are from Cleveland, and shared Pittsburgh and Ohio State game comments.
Thanks to Stephanie, the Wine Club Manager, who tasted us at the last minute show-up at 10 a.m. 🙂 and did a great job.. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable, we enjoyed her presentation.
RARE COMPLIMENTARY TASTINGS because Gary believes” “If you make good wine you don’t have to charge for a tasting.”
ALL products are 100% estate and they don’t grow anything that doesn’t work here on the property. So they don’t grow Pinot Noir because it has to be grown closer to the coast.
ALSO RARE — GOT TO WATCH A HARVEST COMING INTO THE VINEYARD. All the years in wine study and never seen this in action! Video-taped it below for those that like this. The grapes were being dropped into the bladder press, de-stemming and sorted by hands THE WINERY has 1700 ft of caves underground, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to tour them.
THE WINES WE TRIED, out of the many available:
1, The Chardonnay – honey easy drinking Chardonnay. Light little bit of citrus not overly anything it was easy sipping. 65% French oak on a state grapes.
2. Rose. Rhone blend, completely classic. 85% Grenache Syrah Viognier. Classic favors. Light airy easy drinking fruity. Little bit cranberry. $30.
4. Viognier is just lovely. Requested to try it as we’ve been liking the valley and it didn’t disappoint. Summary: would buy it.
5. Cote Du Robles is a transition wine for white drinkers. It is a very clear Garnet color that looks light. Very nice fruity flavors. Very lovely fruity flavors with great balance. Different, fruity, light sipper.
6. Full Boar Red, is a general palette, easy drinking, party sipper. Only red with a screw top. Think beach, BBQ and boats =. $30
7. Steinbeck Syrah. Old Vine clone as a result of planting it first it in the valley, Eberle became the godfather of Syrah and is this is his classic. Syrah was also easy-drinking and ready now, but has enough ‘uph’ to lay down. Optimal data’s 4 years from now till 2031.
8. Cabernet, 44 years old, approachable tannin + a nice fruit flavors. Jammy. Now till 2036 They have laid down the fruit for a little bit longer to be ready so that we’re not having to do it after we after we purchase it..
9. 2015 Estate Cabernet. $52 retail. I agreed with their notes that it has firm tannins and nice acidity — not too much of anything. Gary believes “like a good pasta sauce you don’t want anyone to be focused on just the garlic or the tomatoes”. It’s a balanced wine that you’re not focusing on any one thing; it’s all beautiful. Liked it enough to get one.
10. Cote Du Robles is a transition wine for white drinkers. It is a very clear Garnet color that looks light. Very nice fruity flavors. Very lovely fruity flavors with great balance. Different, fruity, light sipper.
Easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing nice wines for the general palate. I’m sure Gary also makes power-house wines but they were not on the tour we were presented in the tasting room, arriving without a long-term appointment.
Historical and get to enjoy a creation of a LOVELY PROPERTY looking out over vineyards and expanded to have a wood-fire food pit and expanded seating all around. Definitely it’s clear they draw a crowd!!
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