My Favorite Neighbor 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

The name Booker comes from the two orphan brothers Claude and Dick Booker who had owned the land, as well as hundreds of more acres on Paso's Westside. The Booker brothers were Paso's favorite sons, dedicating their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians. Aside from lending their farming knowledge and manual labor to neighbors and those in need, they were the area's biggest philanthropists, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed. Booker Asseo is located on Paso Robles' Westside, immediately joining the famous Stephan Vineyards that produce L'Aventure Wines. The high-density vineyard is planted on steep hillsides of calcareous shale.

What started as an homage to Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery and his Bordeaux roots quickly became an obsession. Stretching wide across the Westside Hills of Paso Robles is clay soil amazingly similar to those found in Napa and Bordeaux. Today, these special sites are farmed meticulously by the farmers who have become Favorite Neighbors. This wine aged 18 months in 70% new French oak.

James Suckling scored this 94 points saying, "Dark berries, cedar, walnuts, sweet spices and pencil shavings on the nose. Full-bodied and so polished and linear, with a chalky texture to the tannins. Wide and layered. Beautiful fruit. Lingering and refined."

Jeb Dunnuck also scored this 94 points saying, "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is smoking good, with a full-bodied, rich, opulent wine that has classic cassis and darker blue fruits as well as leafy tobacco, baking spice, and bouquet garni notes. This textured, ripe, sexy wine stays nicely balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another awesome value."

Wine Enthusiast gave this 93 points saying, "Dense aromas of toasted walnut, cocoa and coffee bean meet with dark berry and wild mint on the savory nose of this bottling. Chalky tannins frame the sip, where espresso and toasty dark-chocolate flavors give depth to the baked berry core."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored this 92 points saying, "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 7% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Petite Sirah and 1% Syrah and matured for 20 months in 55% new French oak. It has a nose of red cherries, tobacco leaves, vanilla and allspice. The medium-bodied palate has easygoing yet nuanced fruit, powdery tannins, seamless acidity and a long finish laced with oak spices. 27,500 cases were made."