L'Aventure : Côte à Côte 2016

Tasting Characteristics and Advice for the Côte à Côte 2016 from L'Aventure

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep red hue with violet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity with notes of black cherries, raspberries and wild blueberries. Spicy touches of nutmeg and clove mingle with nuances of dark chocolate, while aromas of garrigue and dried flowers bring a Mediterranean dimension. Hints of violet, plum and a chalky minerality complete this generous bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and densely concentrated, with an intense, fruit-driven expression of red and black fruit. The tannic structure is round and creamy, offering a velvety, polished texture. The long, juicy finish reveals persistent spicy notes, while the wine’s remarkable purity underscores the excellence of its terroir.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, especially lamb or beef. It also complements game dishes with elegance, Mediterranean preparations with aromatic herbs, as well as aged hard cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

The Côte à Côte 2016 can be enjoyed now but also offers cellaring potential of over 20 years. It is best served at 16-18°C.

The Structure and Richness of a Paso Robles Wine by L'Aventure

The Estate

Founded in 1998 by French winemaker Stephan Asseo and his wife Beatrice, L'Aventure Winery spans 127 acres, including 57 acres of vineyards in the Paso Robles region of California. Stephan Asseo, trained at the École Œnologique de Mâcon and drawing on 17 years of experience in Bordeaux, chose to settle in California to escape the regulatory constraints of the French AOC and to express his creative vision freely. Today, the estate remains a family-run business, with their daughter Chloé Asseo-Fabre serving as CEO since 2021. In 2017, the estate partnered with the Thiénot family, owners of Champagne Thiénot, while maintaining its independence. L'Aventure is recognized as one of Paso Robles’ pioneering estates, being the 25th winery established in a region that now counts more than 250.

The Vineyard

L'Aventure’s vineyard is located on the western slope of Paso Robles, in the Willow Creek District, in the shadow of the Santa Lucia Mountains. This prime location benefits from a pronounced maritime influence from the Pacific, creating a cool climate. The complex soils, composed of active limestone and calcareous schist, provide excellent natural drainage. The vines are planted at high density, with more than 2,000 vines per acre, and benefit from a sophisticated irrigation system that allows for precise parcel-by-parcel management. The significant day-to-night temperature swings, often exceeding 20-25°C, promote slow, balanced ripening of the grapes while preserving natural acidity.

The Vintage

The 2016 vintage benefited from favorable weather conditions that allowed for optimal ripening of the grapes. The sunny days and cool nights typical of the Willow Creek District helped develop excellent aromatic concentration while maintaining the freshness essential to the wine’s balance.

Winemaking and Aging

The Côte à Côte 2016 was aged for 14 months in a sophisticated combination of new and one-wine French oak barrels, complemented by cement vats and amphorae. This diversified approach subtly integrates the influence of oak while preserving the transparency of the terroir. This California wine underwent neither fining nor filtration, in line with the estate’s minimally interventionist winemaking philosophy, thereby preserving its authenticity and natural complexity.

Grape Varieties

Grenache (55%)
Mourvèdre (25%)
Syrah (20%)