Aaron Wines, Sand & Stone (Grenache, Petite, Syrah, Graciano), Paso Robles, California, 2022

Overview of the Wine
Aaron began in 2002 with a focus on producing powerful, age-worthy wines from the rugged hillsides of westside Paso Robles.Utilizing vineyards from the most amazing sites their boots could find, they source intense yet balanced fruit from the Willow Creek, Adelaida, and Templeton Gap districts.    

From Ian Blackburn - I was really blown away by the quality, texture, and complexity.  I buy massive scoring wines from Paso at much higher price points that don’t have the charm and drinkability that these do.  You will not be disappointed here and I highly recommend you getting to know this exciting brand.

Grape / Blend
40% Grenache, 28% Petite Sirah, 27% Syrah, 5% Graciano

Origin
Paso Robles, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Sand & Stone is always our most vibrant cuvee due to the large portion of Grenache, one of our most favorite grapes. Grenache absolutely thrives in the limestone soils of Paso Robles, and it seems as well suited here as its traditional home in the Southern Rhone. Coupled with the powerful nature of Petite Sirah, Sand & Stone showcases how we can bring tremendous freshness and overall drinkability to a rather powerful wine. To retain this freshness, we age the cuvee in special thick-staved 350L and 400L puncheon that limit oxygen exposure during elevage. From start to finish it brims with pure, focused fruit; dried strawberries, olallieberry, and black raspberry. Always floral and tremendously aromatic, it features plenty of spicy notes of white pepper, licorice, and smoky oak along with a juicy, youthfully tannic finish.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
Quite dark in the glass, this blend of 40% Grenache, 28% Petite Sirah, 27% Syrah and 5% Graciano shows very bold but crystal-clear aromas of blueberry, elderberry and violet, with subtle hints of savory grilled beef. The palate is well weighted and smoothly textured, offering baked berry, cocoa, mint and pepper flavors.

93 Points - Vinous
Darkly alluring, the 2022 Sand & Stone entices with notes of fig and plum sauce, grilled herbs and hints of sour citrus. This sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk, demonstrating incredible balance. Ripe red berries slowly saturate, complicated by minerals and dark chocolate nuances. It finishes dramatically long and youthfully tense with a lingering dusting of baking spice and blood orange.

Product size: 750ml