In early September, we introduced you to Dark Star Cellars of Paso Robles. This 24-year-old Paso winery is regarded as one of the founders of the Paso wine region. Dark Star Cellars is a family affair winery which crafts its wines with great love and care. Though this wine is so dark, this love and care really shine through.

This wine is blood red in the glass, omitting only a tiny bit of light through the dark core. Allow this wine to open up and you’ll be well rewarded - it’s clean and fresh with notes of blackberry, raspberry, pine, eucalyptol, and dusty bramble. The wine shines with its complexity on the palate with juicy notes of blackberry, olive, and pomegranate with a terrific straw and flax flavor that gives it another dimension. True to the promise of big red blends, this wine strives for balance and achieves it, offering a complete package of tannin, alcohol, sugar, fruit, and acidity. This wine could be dressed up with a beef bourguignon or dressed down with your momma’s meatloaf. It’ll be right at home either way.

Dark Star winemaker, Michael Emling, is regarded as the most Gold Medal winning winemaker in the Paso Robles region. His meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard and in the winery are apparent in today’s delectable blend of 42% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 21% Zinfandel, 8% Mourvedre, and 4% Merlot.