Law Estates 'Audacious' 2022

2022 Law Estate Wines “Audacious”

Paso Robles – Adelaida District, California
35% Grenache • 31% Carignan • 18% Cabernet Sauvignon • 16% Syrah

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Audacious is a powerful yet remarkably polished Paso Robles red blend, combining the generosity of Grenache with the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and the savory complexity of Carignan and Syrah.

The nose is packed with candied cherry, ripe currant, red berries, dried hibiscus, savory herbs and dark spice. On the palate, Grenache leads with vibrant red fruit, while Cabernet contributes fine-grained tannins and herbal depth. Carignan brings freshness and citrus-like tension, while Syrah adds dark spice, earthy minerality and an iron-like core.

French oak is beautifully integrated, adding subtle notes of clove, cardamom and vanilla without overwhelming the fruit. A distinctive crushed river-stone minerality runs through the wine, giving it energy and structure.

Jeb Dunnuck compared the 2022 Audacious to a top Châteauneuf-du-Pape, highlighting its red and black fruit, peppery spice, Provençal herbs and loamy earth.

Interesting Facts

• A Rhône-inspired blend with a California twist: Although Audacious contains Cabernet Sauvignon, the foundation is distinctly Rhône-inspired, with Grenache, Carignan and Syrah making up 69% of the blend.
• High-elevation vineyard: The fruit comes from Law Estate's own vineyards in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, at approximately 1,400–1,900 feet elevation.
• Limestone terroir: The estate's soils are calcareous and limestone-rich, contributing to the wine's mineral character and natural freshness.
• Handcrafted from estate fruit: The 2022 was 100% estate-grown, hand-harvested and hand-sorted, with the fruit completely destemmed before fermentation.
• 22 months in French oak: The wine spent 22 months aging in French oak, including approximately 55% new oak, along with puncheons and foudre. Despite the substantial aging, the oak is designed to complement rather than dominate the fruit.
• Small production: Only 845 cases of the 2022 Audacious were produced.
• Native fermentation: The wine underwent native primary and malolactic fermentation, adding another layer of complexity and emphasizing the estate's terroir-driven approach.

Critic Scores

98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

Food Pairings

This wine has enough structure for serious food:

• 🥩 Ribeye or grilled steak
• 🐑 Herb-crusted rack of lamb
• 🍖 Braised short ribs
• 🍗 Grilled chicken with rosemary
• 🍄 Wild mushroom dishes
• 🌭 Grilled sausages
• 🥘 Beef stew
• 🧀 Aged Manchego or hard cheeses

I'd especially push lamb, steak and grilled meats for your customers.

Why We Love It

This is a serious wine for the price category.

What makes Audacious interesting is that it doesn't simply try to be another massive Paso Robles red. The Grenache gives it beautiful red-fruit lift, Carignan provides acidity and freshness, Syrah adds savory depth, and Cabernet supplies the tannic framework.

The result is something that sits nicely between California richness and Southern Rhône complexity.

And with 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck, only 845 cases produced, estate-grown fruit and a limestone-driven Adelaida District origin, there's a very good story to tell.

Serving Temperature: 60–64°F
Decant: 1–2 hours
Drink Window: 2026–2036+
Style: Full-bodied • Structured • Spicy • Mineral • Complex • Age-worthy