I got the chance to taste the 2023 Linne Calodo Problem Child last week, and I can say with full conviction it's one of the best Paso Robles Zin blends I've ever encountered.
Recently awarded 98 points by Jeb Dunnuck, who called it "one of the finest Zinfandel-based wines I've had in some time," this is the sort of wine that grabs your attention from the second you pull the cork. Flowing with notes of cassis, kirsch, candied lavender, violet, exotic spices, cracked pepper, and mocha, this is rich and full, but it's also fresh and energetic. It also evolves in the glass....
By the time I got to my last glass, this wine was flirting with 100 points!
What impressed me most about this wine was its impeccable balance. Despite all of its richness, concentration, and power, it remains remarkably lively and vibrant. That's a difficult combination to achieve, especially in hot and sunny Paso Robles, and it's one of the key reasons I consider Linne Calodo to be one of the elite producers in the AVA.
I put them in the same league as Saxum, and one of the coolest parts of the story is that Linne Calodo founder Matt Trevisan started Linne Calodo at the same time his college roommate Justin Smith started Saxum. In fact, much of the fruit that went into Trevisan's early releases came from Justin's famed James Berry Vineyard, one of the top sites in all of Paso. Nearly 30 years later, Linne Calodo and Saxum remain two of the benchmark estates of Paso Robles.
The 2023 Problem Child is built around 58% Zinfandel, with Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, and Graciano completing the blend. According to Matt, 2023 was the finest Paso Robles growing season he has ever experienced. After having the wine, I think the quality in bottle certainly supports that claim.
Just to back me up, here's what Jeb Dunnuck had to say: "The 2023 Problem Child is medium to full-bodied, round, and sexy, with incredible aromatics of red and black fruits, spicy herbs, incense, orange blossom, and black tea. Aged 17 months in puncheons and barriques (20% new), it has a silky texture and flawless integration. This is one of the finest Zinfandel-based wines I've had in some time. Drink 2025-2033."
This is Paso Robles at its absolute best -- bold, expressive, and loaded with personality, yet balanced enough to not weigh you down after a glass.
Whether you're already a fan of Linne Calodo or discovering the winery for the first time, this is a bottle that deserves your attention.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
