The first Caelesta is down and out as expected, but we lined up a second one for all you hedonists.

Obviously because “Caelesta Vineyard sits on steep hillsides at the end of the Templeton Gap’s cool wind tunnel, imbuing the Farrell family’s Rhône varieties with tremendous depth.” per Wine Enthusiast…

A different composition of grapes here (Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet, and Petite Sirah in that order) brings on a full-frontal assault of deep, polished, extracted black fruit, toasty mocha, and violets right up in your grill. Compared to the previous Parrallax, it has less of that cured meat aspect, less aggressive tannins, and it’s all about that ripe Paso style we can’t say no to.

And when we saw the pricing? Still in disbelief. A $75, small-production release from an up-and-coming project… again for $27?! NO-BRAINER!

Caelesta Vineyard was unfamiliar to us. For good reason. A relative newcomer to the Paso Robles wine scene, they own a 200-acre property and planted vines on the elevated hillsides in 2017. The Templeton Gap AVA sits closest to the Pacific Ocean in Paso and is the coolest of the 11 AVAs. And their property is rich with Linne Calodo soils that offer a terrific minerality, lending layers of elegance and restraint to the otherwise high-octane wines so often produced in the region.

As mentioned above, this is a juicy fruit bomb with a little more soft/expansive polish to the mouthfeel. Immense concentration, loads of black fruit, and a subtle backdrop of savory spices… MMM. With just a few years of production under their belt at their new winery, they’re already crushing it and seem to be doing everything right, already storming the gates with 93 points on the way to cultdom.

Winemaker Brian Farrell Jr. deserves much of the credit here. He worked with some big-timers in the industry. First was Pete Turrone, who’s behind the venerable My Favorite Neighbor and Harvey &Harriet wines. Then with Tony Biagi, who recently took the helm at To Kalon Vineyard Company. Brian had worked with Tony at Jada prior, plus at Epoch as well as Two Hands in Australia, learning the nuances of winemaking. In 2019, they released their first vintage and simply crushed it.

We’re honestly shocked we got more of this. Like time through the hourglass, it’s trickling down…and when you taste it, and realize you should have bought more, well…

Don’t say you weren’t warned, again.

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Black plum, elderberry and purple flower aromas meet with a dark and focused espresso note on the nose of this blend of 42% Tempranillo, 30% Syrah, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petite Sirah. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy but with tannins holding up firm boundaries, as flavors of baked fruit, cardamom and caramel converge on the palate.”