L'Aventure : Optimus 2023

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of Optimus 2023 from L'Aventure

Tasting Notes

Appearance
An intense colour, ranging from deep ruby to purple.

Nose
The bouquet reveals great purity on black fruits such as blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry. It is enriched with spicy nuances, pepper, graphite and smoky touches, elevated by floral notes of violet brought by the high proportion of Petit Verdot.

Palate
Full-bodied and generous, the wine offers a supple, round texture supported by ripe tannins. The whole displays a lovely freshness and great precision, extending into a long, flavourful finish with fruity and spicy accents.

Food and Wine Pairing
This cuvée pairs wonderfully with red meats in sauce, braised beef or veal dishes, as well as game stews. It also goes very well with Mediterranean herb-infused dishes and pressed, cooked-curd cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring
It is recommended to decant Optimus 2023 while young and to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. With excellent ageing potential, this wine can be enjoyed until around 2035.

L'Aventure: the Boldness of a Great Terroir in Paso Robles, California

The Estate
Founded in 1998 by French winemaker Stephan Asseo and his wife Beatrice, L'Aventure is an iconic estate located in Paso Robles, California. After a long career in Bordeaux, Stephan chose this unique terroir to break free from strict regulations and create his own distinctive style. The estate spans 127 acres, of which around 58 are dedicated to vines. Today, Stephan Asseo, still owner and winemaker, runs the estate with the growing involvement of his daughter Chloé, carrying forward an artisanal and innovative vision.

The Vineyard
Located on the western slope of Paso Robles, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir composed of very thin soils of siliceous shale and marine limestone. The vines, planted on hillsides and plateaus, are cultivated at high density and according to predominantly biodynamic and organic principles. This microclimate, marked by significant temperature swings between hot days and cool nights, allows the grapes to achieve great concentration while preserving lovely natural acidity. Yields are deliberately limited to around 2.5 tons per acre.

Winemaking and Ageing
The grapes harvested for the Optimus 2023 cuvée undergo a rigorous selection process. In the cellar, fermentations are often triggered by indigenous yeasts after a cold maceration, with gentle extraction through pump-overs. Optimus 2023 is aged over a period of 18 months in French oak barrels, split between 37% new barrels and 63% one-year-old barrels. The wine is then bottled, scheduled for March 2025, without any fining or filtration.

Grape Varieties
54% Syrah, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot