Booker Perl Red Wine Paso Robles 2020

Every now and then, we like to detour from Napa Valley and indulge in delights other than Cabernet. To pull our attention, however, the wines have to be sensational, and Booker Vineyards did just that! We’ve cheered on the brand from a distance for its commitment to sustainable farming and its ability to produce juicy, robust, and structured GSM blends and Syrah. There is nothing dainty about these wines – they will command your tastebuds!

The name Booker comes from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who purchased the land in the late 1920s. By the turn of the century, the Booker brothers had acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's Westside. They dedicated their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed, Dick in 1990 and Claude in 2000.

Next came Eric and Lisa Jensen, who purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001 to grow the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area. After making wine with Justin Smith (of Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (of L'Aventure Wines) for two years the Jensens decided it was time to create their own expression with Booker Vineyard. The 2005 vintage was Booker Vineyard's first release with the wines being made by owner Eric Jensen. 

Booker is dedicated to pursuing farming perfection, constantly striving to find the perfect balance in the vineyard through certified organic farming practices and methods that draw inspiration from biodynamics. The west side of Paso Robles terroir is unique, boasting extreme vertical slopes and calcareous soils. Limestone beds with very little water make it hard to believe that anything could grow, yet the Booker estate produces some of Paso's most concentrated and boastful fruit.  

The newest release from Booker, Perl, is a blend of 91% Syrah and 9% Grenache from the estate vineyard, with minor additions from the Catapault and Moonsprings Vineyards in western Paso Robles.  Fruit from each vineyard is fermented in stainless steel and aged in 50% new French oak before the final blending.  The resulting wine is lusciously rich, with jammy fruit aromas, purple flowers, and underlying savory hints of cured meats and olive tapenade.  Grainy tannins fill the palate and linger through a long finish, making it a fantastic pairing for your next Summer barbecue.