The Paring

We think the easiest way to sell The Paring wines is by selling their provenance.  The wines are from Screaming Eagle, the most expensive wine from California.  From there you can go on to share what prices those wines command in stores and restaurants ($1,000+), consumer demand, points, scarcity and so on, ad nauseum.  This pitch works for me anyway.

Truth is, The Paring Red Blend is probably as good of an example of a Bordeaux Blend at its price point as there is coming out of California.  The Paring Chardonnay likewise is an equally fine example of type.  So the Screaming Eagle hype is just that...hype.  But it's easy to play off of.

Screaming Eagle also markets wines from Jonata Vineyards and The Hilt so The Paring is way down the list from their flagship label.  But that doesn't diminish what's in the bottle.  Screaming Eagle is, of course, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (hence the price).  The other labels are from Santa Barbara County so it's apples and oranges anyway.

Jonata is in the Ballard Canyon AVA within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and The Paring Red is largely sourced from Jonata's younger vines.  Other vineyards used to support this juice are in Santa Maria Valley and Sta Rita Hills where the Chardonnay is also sourced.

So what makes The Paring Red so good?  In a word, balance.  And structure.  It's not just about jammy forward fruit like so many California wines.  The wine is refined and elegant and features herbal and savory dimensions along with intrinsic dusty tannins and acidity.  

The wine is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot so its inspiration and focus is on Cabernet fruit.  Cassis, tobacco and chocolate are all readily there in this distinctly new world creation.