Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of light purple. Nose of ripe raspberries, strawberry, milky vanilla, and quite sweet. Taste follows the nose with addition ample acidity, spice, quite refreshing and juicy, sweet, almost no tannins, and a bit zesty. Aftertaste is quite clean with zesty touch. Crowd pleaser Pinot. — 18 days ago

Max Kates

9.3

Absolutely delicious!!! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Founded in 1980, Winery is a partnership between Chalone Wine Group and Paragon Vineyard, defining the Central Coast appellation for which it is named. Aromas of tropical and citrus fruits and subtle spice. On the palate melon and peach flavors with citrus zest, vivid acidity, nicely balanced on medium finish. Good value. Tasting Sample. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

This is a powerful Pinot, very dark red, almost purple, with smoky spice and dark berry aromas. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors with earthy spice notes, well structured, with firm savory tannins but not consuming. The ending is lingering with full fruit on the finish. About 140 cases made and should age well. Very Nice! Tasting Sample.

— 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A producer bottling I’ve not had. This came to be in my procession via a wine exchange with @Severn Goodwin.

This 03 Jade is In fine shape due to its quality production and Severn’s excellent storage of it.

Nose reveals ripe, slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, black licorice, black pepper, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, underbrush with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets.

The palate is, ripe, rich, elegant, round and lush. After roughly 15 years in bottle, she shows, rounded, dusty, chewy/meaty, dry tannins. The structure, tension, balance & length are just the other side of its peak. The fruits like the nose are slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, smoked meats, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, old tobacco, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, very dry underbrush, some tree bark/sap with brilliant, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets. The acidity is really nice...like a cool mountain stream. The long finish is delicious and persist endlessly into dry, dark spice on the long set.

Still has another 3-5 years of good drinking ahead of it depending on your storage and the age you like your wine to show.

Photos of; Previous Owner-Jim Paras (left) with Winemaker Douglas Danielak, Paras Vineyard Syrah clusters ready for harvest and their Paras Vineyard.

Producer notes, San Francisco Lawyer Jim Paras started the winery in 1984. At the time, he produced about 8,000 cases a year of Syrah, Merlot, Mourvhdre and Viognier. In 1994, Chalone began distributing his wines and eventually bought the winery in 2000. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Lovely fresh blackberry and green undergrowth. Very round and polished. On the palate light and focused. A bit dilute. Pretty and refreshing — 6 years ago

with Matt and David

Robyn Paris

10

Love this wine- pair with almost anything. Crisp, fruity but not sweet, delicious. — 4 years ago

Jo Anne B

9.3

Love Kim and Fulcum pinot — 4 years ago

with Turd, Dave and 1 other

Matt Beyard

9.1

This Grenache from way up high on Chalone was great in the tasting room and beautiful at home. Love the fruit in this wine. — 5 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.4

Surprise favorite of a Chenin blanc tasting, haven't had a current vintage Chalone wine in years, not since working for Acacia when it was still owned by Chalone. This wine had killer acid, varietal character, just enough richness. Can imagine this wine is a favorite of the production team at the winery--often these tiny production side wines are the most individual and exciting, less pressure and expectations. (I need to try the other Chalone wines and see what they are doing these days.) — 6 years ago