Thursday Aug 10th: When we started planning this trip one of the things on everyones “must” list was dinner at Justin ( https://www.justinwine.com/visit) along with a tasting. Having received a Michelin star it has become quite the hot ticket. I originally contacted them months out and was told that they only take reservations 60 days out. So I set my calendar and at the exact 60 day mark from when we wanted to go (this very day), I both logged on and called at the “opening bell” Well….no such luck as they were instantly out of anything before 8:15 pm (now that may not seem bad to many of you, but it’s a 3.5 hour dinner and 45 minutes from the house we were in). So I had myself added to their waiting list with really no hope, and had heard nothing from them prior to the trip. Well…..remember we were headed to the house from Hearst Castle after the small stop for lunch? (if not go read part 1 again), my phone rings and it’s Justin Restaurant saying yes, they have space for the 6 of us at 6:30 if we are still interested. I almost drove off the road! Long story short, I said yes, I was sent a link to confirm, that I did when we arrived at the house and we were booked for their tasting menu (the only kind of meal they serve). We also decided that this would require transportation since no one wanted to drive the 45 minutes back after such a long dinner and wine pairing, so I set aside time to find and book that as well.

We did have one tasting set up prior to that, at Turley (https://www.turleywinecellars.com/ ) so off we went at midday. It was a very nice set up, the wines were very tasty, heavy on the Zin’s (which we all like) so much so that, while I didn’t join the club, I did buy two bottles that, as I write this, are on their way to SC. After that we headed to a butcher and fish market to gather things for the dinner we were going to cook at the house on Saturday when Sue’s brother David and sister-in-law Sandy were going to join us from San Fran. Steak, shrimp, scallops, salad, made up the bulk of the dinner menu with a cheese board to start, so with bags packed off we went to the house to swim a bit prior to getting ready for dinner.

At 5:45 the transportation arrived and off we went. We arrived at Justin and were met, as you would expect, with smiles and a glass of welcome wine. We were seated promptly at 6:30 and the epicurean journey began. The service was spectacular, (if you’ve seen the movie The Menu, it was everything but the opening “clap” and we all made it out alive and well). While it was listed as a “4 course” menu, between the opening amuse and the various “extras” it was much more than just 4 things. The wine was, of course, paired perfectly, and unlike other similar experiences a renewed “splash” was always given, after the first course, without even mentioning it. There were some clear winners and some that seemed to not float everyone’s boat, but overall it was exactly the experience we had hoped for. Each one of us was given a small bag with water, a special salt and a copy of the menu to take along and off we went (thankfully transported by someone else) back to the house.

Justin: The Restaurant is at the left, overlooking the vineyards

Friday Aug 11th: A full but very fun day. We started our tasting with a private, hilltop tasting at Adelaida (https://www.adelaida.com/) . The setting and the views were stunning and the wines, hands down, the best we had while in Paso (yes I joined that club as did a few other folks, it was that good). After that we headed a very short way down the road to another fabulous setting Daou (https://daouvineyards.com/). It was very different from the first tasting that day. Adelaida was laid back, and while busy, very relaxed. Daou was over the top hustling, bustling and busy. It gave me the feeling that if EPCOT had a wine tasting room Daou would be it. That did not detract from their wines which were very nice, and their signature Soul of a Lion stands with the best cab in Paso and equal to a great Napa/Sonoma cab. Sue’s brother David and sister in law Sandy met us there (they are members which is how we even found out about it) and at the end of the tasting, gifted me a bottle of Soul (which made the trip home to SC safely and is now residing in our wine fridge for some upcoming special occasion).

Laura and Tracy left about midway through the Daou tasting as another “expansion” of the circle was about to happen…Laura’s niece Ellen, who she had not seen in a few years and who was living in the LA area was coming to visit along with her boyfriend Simon, and they went to meet them. We gathered back together for a wonderful dinner at In Bloom (https://www.inbloompasorobles.com/) in downtown Paso. As was the case with Ella and Paulie, Ellen and Simon were sparks of energy and just wonderful to get to know and spend time with.

Adeladia Hilltop Tasting

Daou with Dave and Sandy (Laura and Tracy had left to meet Laura’s niece)

Saturday Aug 12th: Our last full day in Paso….We headed to a cave tour and wine tasting at Eberle https://www.eberlewinery.com/). Gary Eberle is touted as one of the founding fathers of Paso Wines. Laura/Tracy/Ellen/Simon went to another winery due to the fact that when Dave and Sandy were added on the cave tasting could only accommodate 8 and it would have left Ellen and Simon hung out to dry as there was no other space (we found out when we got there how busy it was). The tour was nice, but after the other places we had been it was simply ok…It was another busy place where they were moving folks in and out quickly. Our cave tour was unhurried and our tour guide really nice but it would not be one I’d recommend for a shorter stay in Paso. After that, we headed back to the house, all together again, and there was pool time, laughs and the “last supper in Paso”…grilled steaks, scallops, shrimp, salad and a LOT of wine of all kinds…suffice it to say that everyone had a great time and it was the perfect way to cap off the week.

Sunday Aug 13th: A very relaxed morning, breakfast, coffee, packing, saying goodbye to Ellen and Simon, one final look around and this spectacular week in Paso came to a very nice conclusion. BUT…the six of us where headed to Carmel By The Sea for another small coda to the trip…but that’s a story for another day…