SMOKESCREEN CELLARS THE CHEMIST 2019

Black fruit cobbler, tar, and a thread of tobacco hit the glass first — the kind of density Paso Robles' east side is built for, where warm days and cool nights concentrate Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and the rarely seen Teroldego into a structured red. Winemaker Paul Johnson ages the blend in French oak, with a portion of new barrels adding grip without burying the fruit. Graphite and fine-grained tannins carry the finish, giving the wine real aging potential.