Fashioned from two of the area’s top sites, the Denner and James Berry Vineyards, the 2003 Avenger is a blend of 55% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, and 20% Grenache. Its gorgeous nose of blackberries, raspberries, plums, currants, licorice, smoke, and camphor is followed by a full-bodied, intense, pure, well-balanced red. Drink this stunningly rich, personality-filled wine over the next 4-5 years. Kudos to Villa Creek for these exceptional offerings that brilliantly showcase the enormous potential of Paso Robles’ western corridor. Villa Creek Cellars is a stunning Rhone Ranger producer. In addition to the extraordinary high quality of their wines, they deserve enormous credit for their innovative packaging, blending, and unbelievably fair prices. Proprietor Chris Cherry has a restaurant of the same name in Paso Robles, and perhaps it is his sensitivity to people being able to afford good wines with their meals that keeps these offerings among California’s most compellingly priced. Tel. (805) 238-3000