2021 Caelesta "Ara - Estate" Templeton Gap District Red Blend
Insider's Advantage
95JD
94WE
93VN
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95
Jeb Dunnuck
Reviewed August 2024The 2021 Ara is based on 75% Tempranillo and 25% Mourvèdre that's all from the estate vineyard in the Templeton Gap region of Paso Robles. It's another killer wine from this estate. Red and black fruits, sandalwood, savory herbs, and leather are just some of the nuances in this spicy, medium to full-bodied, concentrated 2021. I like it today yet see no reason it shouldn’t age for a solid 10-15 years, if not longer, in cold cellars. This is a producer that needs to be on readers’ radar.
Professional Reviews
94
Wine Enthusiast
Potently dark in the glass, this red blend pairs aromas of elderberry and blackberry with black pepper, roasted fennel and a touch of smoke on the nose. The cohesive palate weaves through cola, baked black and red berry and savory spices. Chalky, everlasting tannins are worth the best. Drink now-2039.
93
Vinous
The 2021 Ara lifts from the glass with an undeniably pretty blend of fresh mint and sweet smoke that complements dried black cherries. Energetic in style, it has a core of ripe red and black fruits that slowly saturate as a hint of cedary spice emerges toward the close. The finish shows admirable length and concentration, leaving a web of fine tannins and a pleasantly bitter twang of licorice to fade.
92
James Suckling
A savory and earth-driven wine showing aromas of dark cherries, cocoa, charcuterie and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, complemented by notes of cassis, tea leaves and graphite. A blend of 76% tempranillo and 24% mourvedre.
Staff Reviews
RW
Review Date: 06/2026
This is a gorgeous proprietary red blend grown at Caelesta Estate. The 2021 Ara combines Tempranillo with Mourvèdre, or Mataro as it would be known in Spain. The varieties work in perfect union with one another, delivering stunningly pure, rich fruit: macerated dark cherry, blackberry, woodsy spices, hints of leather, and dusty earth. Full-bodied and saturating on the palate, but with lots of dynamic energy and vibrancy, too. The rocky mineral core beams through the ripe fruit and lingers long on the palate. Drinking great now, but also a wine with clear potential to develop further complexity in the cellar, so don’t be afraid to buy a few to lay down for 5–8 years.
Notes
76% Tempranillo, 24% Mourvedre
Details
| Origin | Paso Robles, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Type/Varietal | Tempranillo |
| Alcohol Content | 14.8% |
| SKU | 2017009 |