Another Zinfandel-dominated blend is the 2014 The Outsider, which incorporates 15% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre. Showing a slightly more dark fruit-slanted feel in its cassis, black raspberry, toasted spice and licorice aromas and flavors, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, fabulous balance and sweet tannin that emerge on the finish. I love the overall purity here, and this beauty is another seamless wine that makes the most of these steep limestone hills on the west side of Paso Robles. (JD) 

An exotically perfumed, expressive bouquet evokes fresh blackberry, boysenberry, lavender pastille and incense; Asian spice qualities gain power as the wine opens up. Densely packed but impressively lithe, offering vibrant black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors and a suggestion of smoky minerals. The floral and spice notes repeat emphatically on the impressively long, sappy finish, which is framed by supple tannins that fold effortlessly into the energetic fruit. (JR)