David Shaw

9.2

My first tasting of the latest vintage. White floral and dried citrus peel aromas. Back label promises flavors of preserved lemon, key lime and thyme. Key lime was prominent with some herb (probably thyme) and tangerine pith. I’m not huge on preserved lemon but then I’m not all that familiar with it in dining, just a few Moroccan and Italian entrees I’ve had using it. So maybe it’s there; I just don’t picture it in my mind’s eye. There is a mineral and lactic-like finish with length in the citrus flavors. Some skin astringency as well, more becoming than not. I like the acidity level, forward but not overpowering. Great balance here overall. Always a pleasurable pour, this one, from vintage to vintage. — 6 days ago

Michelle Wong

9.2

Will be delicious for many more years. Very juicy and full of complex earthy flavors. — 8 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on November 23, 2025 at Home]

Purchased during October 2019 visit to winery in Paso Robles. 40% Syrah; 25% Grenache; 24% Mourvèdre; 8% Petit Verdot; 3% Graciano. Strawberry, watermelon, white peach and mandarin orange fruit, with notes of rose petal, herbs de Provence and saline. — 10 months ago

Carter White

9.3

Fruit, earth, and spice, great structure and balanced. Lighter style, drinking so good young. — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

First time having this one, I’d buy it again.
Vinous 94

Winemaker Anthony Yount produced a stellar set of wines in 2018, all of which exhibit the vibrant fruit character that marks the vintage. Once again, I was impressed by the all-Carignan Sacred Burro bottling, which shows the potential of this still-obscure variety in Paso Robles, both as a blending grape and for a stand-alone varietal bottling. While more and more wineries have begun to include it in their plantings and the resulting wines, nobody yet is doing it as consistently well as Denner. — 4 years ago

WC Fields

9.2

Optimus. Young but in its prime. — 5 years ago

Michael Herzog

9.2

Loved this. There was a nice acidity to this which I didn’t expect. It was like a very ripe piece of citrus and had some orangey qualities to it. Very refreshing and I wish I had more. — 6 years ago

Len

9.4

Fantastic smoothly aged dry Riesling. Very light petrol aromas but flowery and a lightly fruity. Medium body, well balanced acidity, bright and perfect for a hot and romantic summer night. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Fave of the three new 2022 red releases-Côte A Côte, Optimus Estate Estate Reserve-and also the most affordable. 3.11.26. — 6 months ago

Raul Puga

9.3

Beautiful color and well balanced. Long delicious finish — 2 years ago

Lynn Graham

9.8

Fabulous buttery oaky finish. We enjoyed a 2019 fist which was richer than the 2021 reserve — 2 years ago

Tyler Felous

9.6

This punches above its weight class. Having had the estate cuvée and cote bottles, this feels a peer. Big deep fruits. Smooth all the way through. Loved it — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

👍🏼
Parkers review,

Wine Advocate | Rating: 96
The 2012 Akasha (which I had incorrectly listed as James Berry Vineyard in the past) is 100% Syrah from Scott's estate Torrin Vineyard. It offers sensational purity and depth in its black raspberry and cassis fruits, graphite, dried violets and crushed rock bouquet. This gives way to a full-bodied, voluptuous and seamless Syrah that has no hard edges, building tannin and a blockbuster finish. It's a heavenly Paso Robles Syrah that needs a year or so

Vinous | Rating: 93
Glass-staining purple. Powerful, deeply pitched aromas of blackcurrant, violet, licorice and woodsmoke, with a peppery topnote and a hint of sassafras. Sweet, smoky and broad on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors and a suave floral pastille flourish; showing a lot of upfront, fruit-driven sex appeal and no rough edges. Finishes very long, with outstanding clarity and supple tannins. - Josh Raynolds — 5 years ago

Karilyn Lesassier-Van Oosten

9.1

Wow! It’s so yellow. — 2 months ago

romo

9.3

Sans soufre — 4 months ago

Jason Keefer

9.5

Hitting perfect right now! Spiced, blue fruits, well integrated. Just absolutely stellar! — 9 months ago

with Natasha

Raul Puga

9.3

Yummmmmm!!!! — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2016 vintage. Massive. Needs an 8hr/holiday decant. Was drinking great after open 3hrs but needed more airtime. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Jarvis has always been such a unique producer with its incredible underground facility and fascinating lineup of wines. Their Finch Hollow Chardonnays (this one and the Unfiltered version) are outrageously expensive, but they sure know how to deliver on flavor profile.

My notes here are actually quite similar to the 2015 I opened last year, but everything is a touch more restrained. Normally quite rich with expensive oak usage, this seems nicely balanced…it’s almost fresh in profile. Sweet lemon cream alongside marzipan and sea breeze aromatically. From a phenolic standpoint, it’s close to some of the Aubert offerings with its powerful texture. Finishes with a surprising amount of honeysuckle, caramel dipped apple, and honeycrisp. This seems to be built for a bit longer aging compared to the 2015. I’ll be curious to see how the 2018 is. — 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.3

Richly Textured and full of strawberries….. — 5 years ago