2016 Downstream
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The 2016 Downstream is drinking brilliantly today and shows how good this vintage was for Paso Robles. A blend of mostly Zinfandel with 8% Syrah, 6% Mataro, and 6% Petite Sirah (there might be some other varieties in here as well), it offers a killer bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, tobacco, cigar, and baking spices that opens up beautifully with time in the glass. This is followed by a full-bodied, ultra-pure, perfectly balanced red that has everything in the right places, silky tannins, and a great finish. It leans heavily toward the hedonistic side of the spectrum yet never goes over the top, has remarkable complexity, and maintains a beautiful sense of elegance. Drink it any time over the coming decade. I was thrilled to be able to taste through a retrospective of all the Downstream releases, and while I’ve reviewed all of these in the past, it was incredibly educational to sit down and taste through the vintages together. The blends have changed dramatically since the inception, and you see that clearly in the style of the wines. The quality, however, is consistently great across the board. Unfortunately, with the passing of collaborator Philippe Cambie, the 2019 will be the last vintage produced. These are brilliant, singular, tiny production releases, and count yourself lucky if you have some in the cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Downstream is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 6% Mataro, 6% Petite Sirah and 4% Tempranillo, made with 15% whole cluster and aged 19 months (no new oak was used). Medium to deep ruby in color, it has bombastic, technicolor scents of stone fruit salad, dried leaves, cinnamon stick, cranberry jelly, raspberry, strawberry preserves and notions of white pepper, lilac, desiccated roses, dried earth and underbrush. The palate is medium to full-bodied with multicolored flavor layers, a gently grainy frame and juicy freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Yum! 300 cases were made.
I loved the 2016 Downstream and even bumped it up a point from last year, which is always a good sign when a wine improves with bottle age. Thrilling notes of black raspberries, spice box, white pepper, and crushed flowers all emerge from the glass, and it’s full-bodied and concentrated, yet as seamless, silky, and polished as they come. The 2016 is 76% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 6% Mataró, 6% Petite Sirah, and the rest Tempranillo, brought up in a mix of vessels. Count yourself lucky if you have a bottle or two!
Opaque, bright-rimmed ruby. Potent, highly expressive black and blue fruit, potpourri and exotic spice aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up candied licorice, cola and black tea qualities with air. Silky, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining boysenberry, cassis, bitter chocolate and violet pastille flavors that deliver a huge payload of flavor but come off surprisingly lively as well. The floral and blue fruit qualities carry emphatically through a strikingly long, smooth finish framed by supple, steadily building tannins. I've no doubt that this wine will age effortlessly, if one has the patience, but it's also incredibly seductive right now. If resistance is futile, roll with it.