Ecluse Wines Improv Review

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Improv: What I think

The Lock Vineyard is named for owners Steve and Pam Lock, and (in case you’re not a fluent French speaker), écluse means lock (like those on canals) in French.

For a while, we were wine club members at Écluse in Paso Robles, introduced to the winery, as we often are, by wine-loving friends. It’s a great place to go wine tasting if you like big, bold red wines. The tastings are done in the (a?) barrel room, and they often will use a glass thief to give you a taste of something in barrel while you’re there. Our decision to leave their club was driven by joining other wine clubs featuring big, bold red wines.

The red blend for Improv changes each year and the philosophy of this wine "is to make the very best wine from the very best fruit that the vineyard has given us."

This 2014, consumed in 2023, had a nose of graphite, blue fruit, and plum (presumably driven by the Merlot). It tasted stewed (not an unusual "tertiary aroma" for aged red wines), and blackcurrant was still strong. Minor notes of black olive, eucalyptus, and fennel. The tannins were smooth and well-integrated, and the wine had medium acidity.

Last updated: December 17, 2023