The Last Kiss
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2031
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused pork tenderloin
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by artisanal winemaker Paul Lato, 'The Last Kiss' is a stunning showcase of cool-climate Grenache, primarily sourced from the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Barbara County's Santa Maria Valley. The wine's evocative name hints at its defining characteristic: an incredibly long, seductive, and perfumed finish that lingers on the palate like a memorable farewell. Influenced by the region's unique maritime microclimate, where cool ocean breezes and morning mists sweep through the transverse valleys of the Central Coast, the grapes undergo a slow, even ripening process. This preserves the grape's natural acidity and coaxes out high-toned aromatics of wild strawberries, white pepper, and crushed rose petals. Lato's minimalist approach in the cellar—utilizing gentle extraction and aging in carefully selected French oak—yields a Grenache of remarkable purity, silkiness, and emotional resonance.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Grenache