I want to talk about one of my favorite wineries in Paso Robles, Tooth & Nail. I love Tooth & Nail because it’s a unique property with fantastic wines. I love that the winery is a castle and I think the moat that surrounds it is awesome!
I first visited this winery with my family in May 2019 after I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona. My parents are members of this winery and the best thing about still living at home is being able to drink their supply of Tooth & Nail wines. The second time I visited was with my best friend coincidentally exactly two years after I visited the first time. Funny how things work out.
The Winery
So when you first drive up to the property, you’ll see the castle. It sticks out like a sore thumb. It isn’t until you start walking up to the tasting room where you’re like, “There’s a moat?!”
Because of COVID, we had to make reservations and we were seated outside, which was perfectly fine with us because it’s important to stay safe as possible even with both of our Moderna shots. We were under an awning out of the sun and by the nice fountain. It was a little chilly outside, but nothing alcohol and food couldn’t fix. Because of our convenient location, we got to interact with the friendly winery dog a few times!
The inside is kind of what you’d expect a castle to be like. There’s lots of art and portraits on the walls. There’s a grand tasting room to the left with cozy couches and a fireplace as well as other tables and chairs. The first time I visited, it was overcast and a bit cold, so we were seated by the fireplace on the couches. The ambience inside is drastically different than it is outside. Comparing my experiences, I think the next time I go, I’ll ask to be seated inside. I assume the other rooms are for big events like weddings and I know for sure that there’s a kitchen since they serve food.
The Wine
Not only do I come here for the ambience, but I also love Tooth & Nail wine. Tooth & Nail used to be under the same company as Rabble Wines, but I think Rabble Wines was bought out, which is probably why we don’t see it in our shipments anymore. Tooth & Nail has other brands such as Amor Fati and Stasis wines, which they serve during your tasting.
They welcome you with a splash of Amor Fati Chardonnay, which was perfectly refreshing and not too buttery. For the two years I’ve been doing this wine thing, Chardonnay has definitely grown on me; however, I still don’t do very oaky Chardonnays. This one was well-balanced and elegant. I would rate this Chardonnay a 6/10, but I docked a point for price. $55 for a bottle of Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay just seems a bit too pricey, IMO.
Next comes the Tooth & Nail Fragrant Snare. It’s an interesting blend of Chardonnay, Albariño, and Viognier. It’s also refreshing, has some great acidity, yet the mouthfeel is delightfully creamy (probably from the neutral oak barrels). This is the wine I’d pair with Dungeness crab and garlic herb butter for New Year’s dinner. It’s a steal at $33 per bottle, but luckily I have a couple bottles here at home and didn’t feel like I needed to take home another one. 8/10 for the Fragrant Snare.
I also tasted the Stasis Viognier. I really loved this wine because I think Viognier is fantastically underrated, but unfortunately, it was only available to wine club members only. I figured they might send it to my parents, but who knows. Again, there was great acidity to this wine and would pair well with lots of dishes. Tooth & Nail suggests fried artichoke hearts and sole with beurre blanc sauce. If you are a wine club member, the Viognier is $37 and definitely worth taking home. 9/10.
I can’t remember if I had the Stasis or the Amor Fati Pinot Noir. Clearly, it wasn’t something to remember LOL. I’ve tasted the Amor Fati Pinot Noir in a wine shipment, but honestly, I didn’t like it that much. It’s very drinkable, but it didn’t leave any sort of memorable impression on the palate.
I know for sure that I had the 2016 Amor Fati Grenache. At first sip, I was like WTF and then it quickly grew on me from there. The initial shock was that it tasted so familiar, like something I’ve had a million times and then I realized it tasted exactly like cherry coke minus the carbonation and sugar. It was such a unique wine, I knew I had to have a bottle and I was willing to drop the $60 on it just to have it. Plus, if you spend over $50, they waive the tasting fee, so it was like getting it for $30. Anyway, 10/10 highly recommend this wine.
Last, but not least was the Tooth & Nail “The Stand.” It’s made from Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Viognier. It’s a really great blend of red wine and it’s delicious, but again, I’ve got a couple of bottles at home and didn’t really need to buy another one. 7/10.
What’s really good at Tooth & Nail is their “Possessor,” which is a Cabernet-based blend and something they used to have called “The Fiend.” The Fiend was my favorite red blend they ever produced, but I was sad to find out that they no longer have it! If it ever comes back, I recommend grabbing a few bottles just to keep!
The Food
My friend and I also had lunch here since we didn’t really feel like driving all the way to Downtown Paso for lunch. We ended up ordering the charcuterie plate, the Wagyu sliders, and garlic parmesan fries.
The charcuterie plate had crostini, dried fruit, nuts, cheeses, cured meats, and jam made from red wine. It was delicious to snack on while drinking wine. The Wagyu sliders came out a little bit later and they were topped with caramelized onions, cheddar, and bacon jam and of course we had to pair the sliders with the garlic parmesan fries.
The food gets a 9/10 altogether. It was an amazing lunch.
If you’re ever in Paso Robles, Tooth & Nail is the place you need to visit while you’re there. You absolutely won’t regret it.
