Ratings:
95
Jeb Dunnuck - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"First made last year, the 2014 Fulldraw checks in as a mix of 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 21% Mourvedre that was raised mostly in barrel. Its inky purple color is followed by a rockin', sweet, layered bouquet of creme de cassis, black plums, vanilla bean, licorice and cured meats. A classic Paso Robles GSM blend, with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, tons of sweet fruit and beautiful purity, it benefits from a decant and will shine for upwards of a decade."
95 Wine Spectator
"Powerfully structured yet polished and refined, this is a real knockout. Currant, peppered meat and crushed rock aromas lead to complex but densely packed flavors of blue and red fruit, licorice and espresso that linger toward big but plump tannins. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2018 through 2028. 775 cases made."
94 Josh Raynolds - Vinous Media
"Bright violet. Ripe red and blue fruits, candied lavender, incense and a hint of spicecake on the highly fragrant nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense black currant and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows impressive depth and vivacity, with no rough edges. The spice and floral notes come back strong on the strikingly persistent, seamless finish, which features smooth, harmonious tannins and a lingering suggestion of sappy red fruit. "
Product Description:
"Fulldraw is new to the line-up with fruit sourced from the vineyard immediately adjoining Booker. The soils are pure white calcareous shale, and getting a crop is almost impossible. Thus making it both a widely unique site as well as borderline unsustainable due to the miniscule yields. As with most young vines in a site that has no vigor, the fruit you get it fresh and exciting but it is key to refrain from getting carried away and making a wine that is over the top in ripeness." -Winery
About the Producer:
"At Booker Vineyard we have dedicated our lives to farming perfection. We are constantly striving to find perfect balance in our vineyard through sustainable farming practices and methods. Beginning in the spring of 2010 we began our venture into the world of Biodynamics. Our wines are always 100% estate fruit and are a true reflection of the calcareous and salicious shale hillsides provided by our Westside Paso Robles vineyard." - Winery
"The name Booker comes from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who had purchased the land in the late 1920’s. By the turn of the century the Booker brothers had acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's Westside. The Booker brothers were Paso's favorite sons, dedicating their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians. Aside from lending their farming knowledge and manual labor to neighbors and those in need, they were the area's biggest philanthropists, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed, Dick in 1990 and Claude in 2000.
"Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 72 acres of the property in 2001 with the intent of growing the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area (Linne Calodo and Saxum). After making wine with Justin Smith (of Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (of L'Aventure Wines) for two years the Jensens decided it was time to create their own expression with Booker Vineyard. The 2005 Vintage was Booker Vineyard's first release with the wines being made by owner Eric Jensen." - Distributor
"While certainly the character of Paso’s winemaking motley crew, Booker Vineyard’s Eric Jensen is dead serious when it comes to wine. Creating the estate in 2005 (they planted their vineyard in 2001), today he farms one of the greatest vineyards in the appellation and his wines consistently rank in the top two or three produced in a vintage. Looking at the new 2013s reviewed in this report (his 2012s were all reviewed last year), this vintage was described by Eric as his “holy grail” vintage, and I couldn’t argue with him. These are incredible wines that have another level of depth and texture over past vintages, yet don’t give an inch with regard to purity, precision or focus. The only drawback here is the wines are made in tiny quantities and are moved almost exclusively through his mailing list. Nevertheless, these 2013s are hands down the finest wines to date from this brilliant estate."Jeb Dunnuck, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #220
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