“Publishes every addition, charges nothing to taste, and still scores 94 — transparency of 98 from a house with everything to protect.”
= shared rank: 4 producers score 94
Kell Bench is a Petite Sirah producer in the Santa Margarita Ranch of the Paso Robles AVA, California. Cruxvine scores it 94 out of 100 — 9 points above the Paso Robles median of 85 — ranking it =5 of 187 producers in the appellation (tied with 3 other producers). Its strongest category is transparency (98); its weakest is value for price (83). The average bottle costs $81, against a regional median of $69. Tasting: 436 Willow Creek Rd, Santa Margarita · Fri–Sun 11:00–16:00 · appointment required · tasting free. Cruxvine has no financial relationship with Kell Bench; bottles were purchased at retail.
How the Crux Score works · All 19 producers in Santa Margarita Ranch · All 187 in Paso Robles
Crux Score 94 is these five weighted, not their average. The weighting is published.
436 Willow Creek Rd
Santa Margarita, CA · Santa Margarita Ranch
Fri–Sun 11:00–16:00
By appointment
Free
No dogs · Food served
Tasting room scored 96
2020 carries smoke exposure from the August complex fires. We score bottles, not intentions.
Every producer in the appellation is scored for each of these years. See the whole Paso Robles vintage record, or what 2020 cost every producer here.
Kell Bench is not a Cruxvine customer. Bottles purchased at retail.
11 wines assessed, poured blind across two sessions.
Independent · family-held since 1997. Reports 88% estate-grown fruit.
Publishes a full additions list. Transparency scored 98.
Cruxvine scores Kell Bench's tasting room 96 out of 100 and the winery 94 overall, ranking it =5 of 187 in Paso Robles. Its tasting room score is above the Paso Robles median of 83. Publishes every addition, charges nothing to taste, and still scores 94 — transparency of 98 from a house with everything to protect.
Tasting at Kell Bench is free.
Yes — Kell Bench is by appointment only. It is open Fri–Sun, 11:00–16:00.
Kell Bench is a Petite Sirah specialist. Cruxvine assessed 11 of its wines, poured blind, and its best-scoring vintage on record is 2021 at 99 points.
The 2021 bottling drinks from 2022 and is at peak between 2033 and 2039, holding to about 2047.
At Kell Bench, food is served.