The Paring 2007 Red Blend Santa Ynez

The Paring Winery
The Paring Red is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 55% new French oak for 22 months. A heady perfume of blackberry, ripe plums, blueberry and vanilla are complimented by a touch of mint and a beautiful, dusty earth/herbal note. All four varieties bring something to this bottle: Cabernet Sauvignon shines through in the black fruit on the nose and contributes to the elegant, firm structure. Merlot brings density and weight to the mid-palate and ensures a generous amount of black and red fruit. Floral and herbal elements from the Cabernet Franc provide grace and add complexity. Even at only 2%, the Petit Verdot with its sanguine quality and density brings vibrancy and force to the blend. The 2007 red is a powerful blend with complexity and just the right balance of richness and focus.

Wine Spectator
NA

Type	Red
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot,
Vintage	200
Bottle size	750mL
Alcohol content	15.2%
Appellation	California – Central Coast - Santa Ynez
Wine Advocate	--
Wine Enthusiast	--
Wine Spectator	87
Other	n/a

About the winery:
There are some people who are educated toward certain positions in life and others who are born to assume them—and Matt Dees is what you’d call a natural winemaker.
Armed with a degree in Soil Science from the University of Vermont and vintages at Staglin in Napa, California and Craggy Range in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, Matt has an intrinsic feel for wine, from dirt to glass. Curious and experimental by nature, Matt’s approach to winemaking is grounded in the vineyard first and foremost: attuned to the vines, the weather, the soil, Matt seems almost to be a part of the vineyard itself. Matt comes to wine with an untethered philosophy, a mindset embodied in The Paring. At the core of these wines one finds a wide-ranging exploration of style, vineyards and blending. When he’s not working with The Paring, Matt can be found making the wines for its big sister winery—Jonata.

The owners of Napa's legendary Screaming Eagle vineyard recently launched 101 Wine Company (Jonata), a new winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Paring wines are made from the younger vines that aren't quite ready for the Jonata label. This 2007 red exhibits a perfume of blackberry, ripe plums, blueberry and vanilla. Dark black fruit in the palate, complex, rich and well balanced.