While I have seen Villa Creek mentioned from time to time some of the message boards, I never saw the wine available at retail around Chicago, and never was moved enough to really search it out. So after some shameless point-chasing based on RP's latest review in the last issue I purchased some of the 2002 Avenger from the winery.


10/13/2004 - Tasted in a Riedel Vinum Syrah glass

This was a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache & 30% Mourvedre. The wine was an impenetrable deep dark purple all the way to the rim. The nose is amazing with a great minerality followed by scents of red cherry, blackberry, blueberry, tar and campfire smoke. In the mouth the wine is full-bodied (yet has a soft mouthfeel) and builds into the mid-palate leaving a mineral flavor lingering for 30+ seconds. The tannins are overwhelmed by the fruit but do leave a tell-tale cotton-mouth feel letting you know they are present. This is a great wine that I only see getting better over the next 5 - 10+ years. While it may be very difficult, try and hold off opening another bottle for at least a couple of years...unless you can find more. (94 points)

While drinking this wine I re-read the intro to the WA's Rhone Ranger section and one point was really re-enforced, "the greatest wines will emerge from cerrative blends as opposed to single varietal efforts". Along with a recent bottle of '99 Linne Calado James Berry Vineyard, I have really realized that while these may not be that "creative" of blends, the sum of the parts are definitely greater than the individual components.

Well done!

Agree with your notes. We brought a number of bottles with us back from our Paso trip this summer. We brought a bottle to a restaurant in Key West that allows corkage and offered a taste to our server who was almost floored by the wine.

It will be tough to hold off on them, but we will try.

2002 Villa Creek Avenger Paso Robles

Anwar brought this wine to Haggis' house last week for a happy hour with a few board members. This was a great wine to bring because it is not readily available in the Chicago area. Let me start by saying that I can see why Parker liked this wine. It is a style that is right up his alley. I can't say it is my favorite style though. 14.9 alcohol. Thick and concentrated. Loads of extracted black fruit with a spicy finish. I detected some heat on the palate. A very well made wine which will undoubtedly satisfy those who identify with Parkers palate on these wines. 88-90 points.

Thanks Anwar. I really enjoyed tryong this wine.

VM

Man I love this wine! I wish I could find more at the $23 I paid for it from the Villa Creek restaurant. It was cool cuz Chris Cherry the owner/winemaker (I could be mistaken on any number of levels here) sat down for a drink and some conversation with our crew...really cool guy and killer wines.

Thanks to Anwar for bringing this! First time I have had it, so it was a treat. Distinct nose of nail polish/acetone initially, but that blew off after a while (20min or so). Great deep purple hue, with loganberry, red licorice and a spiciness (as VM noted). The Mourvedre really comes through on this, more than some might like (it is 30% mourvedre, after all). HI=91

By the way: there was still a glass or two left, so tried it again the next day...dynamite!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: haggis,

Loaded with super-ripe flavors and lots of heat. Velvety mouthfeel. Lacking a little structure on the finish. Nice flashy wine for $23. 88P.

Thanks for opening this, Anwar!

Cheers,

Otis

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For me this was a "judgement reserved" wine. More than any other on the table, it suffered from getting too warm, because all it showed was a blast of alcohol followed by a rush of overripe fruit. I have no doubt it would be a very different (and much better) wine at 65F.

Mark

I've never tried the '02 but still have 3 bottles of the '01. Has anyone had both of these and can offer a comparison?