The Paring Cabernet Blend 2020 750ml +14%

The Paring Cabernet Blend 2020 (also called The Paring Red 2020 or The Paring Red Blend) is a California Bordeaux-style red blend from The Paring winery. Winemaker Matt Dees crafts it as a more approachable, value-oriented "second" wine, drawing from younger vineyard blocks or lots that don't fit into their flagship wines (often linked to the acclaimed Jonata project in Santa Barbara County).

Blend and Production

• Composition: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot.
• AVA: California (grapes from Santa Barbara County sites with sandy soils and a slightly cooler climate).
• Aging: 22 months in French oak (55% new, 45% neutral). Barrels from coopers like Taransaud, Sylvain, Bel Air, and Dejarnac.
• Alcohol: ~14.5% ABV.
• Cases produced: Around 5,000–7,600 (varies by source).

It's described as a "Cabernet-inspired blend" that highlights focused fruit and shapely tannins.

Tasting Notes (from Winemaker Matt Dees and Critics)

Aromas: Lifted black fruit, savory green herbs, grilled bread, espresso, anise, cassis, tobacco, chocolate, cedar, bay leaf, and spicy notes. Some notes mention dark currants and menthol/licorice.

Palate: Bright red fruit and black plum, with a sweet-savory interplay. Medium-bodied with ripe, gentle, dusty tannins, good mid-palate concentration, mulberry sweetness, bright acidity, and a long, precise finish. It shows elegance, balance, and refinement rather than heavy extraction.

Style: Bold yet accessible—plump red/purplish fruit with spice, herbal, and savory elements. It's hearty but drinks well now or over the next few years, with nice structure that holds up.