LXV Wines – Excellent Wines With A Unique Tasting Experience
The Wine Tasting Experience
Photo from LXV Wines website
A unique experience from a unique culture to the wine industry. Neeta Mittal is the owner of LXV Wines. It started in India in a village south of Mumbai, where her mother lives and frequently visits the spice market to find fragment herbs for Tandoori Masala. The goal of Neeta is unconventional in that her goal is to open up as she states “the restrained jargon of pH and acidity” to flavors and senses. The LXV Wine experience at the tasting room in Paso Robles was named to the Top 10 by USA Today. The end goal is to create at their tasting room “a movement that inspires and heightens moments, and that transcends the personal, business and community”. Lofty goals for sure and she is obtaining them often. I was privileged to enjoy a home cooked meal last December with various Cabernet Franc wines, and the creativity and uniqueness was so far beyond any typical food and wine pairing.
Just as unique was how they found Paso Robles! Her husband Kunal and she on a flight wanted to land at Oceano’s county airport, but being fogged in, they detoured and landed at Paso Robles. They immediately made the most of this unexpected arrival and connected with the people of Paso Robles. The land also reminded them of India.
They hired consulting winemaker Jeff Strekas with his background from Napa and Bordeaux style of wine making that was a match for Neeta and Kunal. Jeff’s creativity and willingness to experiment in new varietals that Neeta enjoys like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Semillon have proven excellent. Additionally he has adapted to Kunal in his love for Cabernet Franc. The vineyards are situated mostly around Paso Robles on some of the most pristinely manicured and hand selected vineyards.
The tasting room just off the main square in downtown Paso Robles has three separate areas to taste their exquisite wines- the main tasting lounge, the Cellar room and the outdoor patio. At each location, besides the wine, flavor samples are available with simply exotic spices and aromas. For example Irish Monk – dulse flakes, miso, pink peppers, amchur, cardamom and black vanilla. Another is Chai Garm Chai – black tea, tulsi, green & black caardamon, star anise, cloves, fennel, rose petals. Currently seven other tastings are available with various wines.
The 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine won the Grand Sweepstakes Award at the 4th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition in April 2023 from the Professional Judges. This was the first time they entered and walked away with a “ton of hardware” including Gold Medal, Best of Class and Best of Show/Division for their price category ($76 to $100). This wine comes from Portico Hills Vineyard (Santa Barbera) and is 100% Cabernet Franc. It was fermented and left on the skins for 19 days before being pressed. It was aged in two new and three used French oak barriques for 19 months before racking and bottling.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes an enticing dark cavernous purple coloring. On the nose, raspberries and lavenders reach out to the senses. On the palate is where the wine shines with fruit including blueberries and vanilla. The finish shows a depth of structure and spices of white pepper and sage. Unique is the smoothness of caressing velvety tannins. So uniquely smooth and enjoyable. The flavor profile most like likely comes from the 1.2 small acre parcel with a 25% slope with sandy and limestone features making the roots search deep for water and nutrition. The wine is listed on their website for $95 and is worth every penny! It will make my list of Best Wines Tasted for 2023 in December.
The Food and Wine Pairing
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired with marinated seared tri-tip steak at 1200 degrees, then BBQ to medium rare. Accompanied by potatoes and fresh garden salad. The smoothness of the wine rounded out the seared outside of the steak perfectly.
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 
May 7, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Our group of 4 will be returning to Paso from Arkansas in October. LXV is on our shortlist. Is this tasting and food pairing available? Thanks!
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