The 2019 vintage at Ballard Canyon was widely regarded as one of the finest in the short history of this sub-AVA, combining warm summer conditions with excellent harvest timing to produce wines of outstanding concentration and freshness across the entire Jonata portfolio. The 2019 Paring Red benefits directly from this context: sourced from the same sandy Careaga-soil vineyards as the Jonata flagship wines, it captures the warmth and fruit expression of the vintage while retaining the accessibility and early-drinking appeal that defines The Paring label’s positioning within the wider family.

The 2019 growing season in Santa Barbara County was characterised by warm days, cool nights and excellent diurnal range throughout the critical ripening phase, producing Bordeaux varieties of particular depth, structure and aromatic precision. For The Paring Red, which represents the estate’s most approachable and commercially available expression of Ballard Canyon fruit, this vintage context delivers a wine with more stuffing and structural intrigue than is usual for the label. Jeb Dunnuck, reviewing The Paring Red for jebdunnuck.com, described the 2019 as a wine of impressive balance and pure, elegant texture.

By 2019, The Paring had established a significant presence in restaurant wine lists across the United States, particularly in markets where consumers seek value wines with a credible provenance story. The association with Jonata, The Hilt and the Screaming Eagle ownership group provides a pedigree narrative that distinguishes The Paring from comparable-priced competitors without inflating the retail price. The 2019 vintage marks the second year in which The Paring Red was produced in the brand-new winery facility built on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills.

Deep ruby with aromas of black cherry, cassis, dark plum, cracked pepper, dried herbs and warm loamy earth. The palate is medium-bodied with pure, elegant texture, excellent integration of tannins and acids, and a long, spiced, fruit-driven finish. One of the more complete recent vintages of this label; drink now through 2028.

The 2019 Red is one of the highlights in this range from The Paring, as it so often is. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend offers up bright red-toned fruit, blood orange and a host of floral/savory overtones. Its effusive, inviting personality is impossible to resist. - Vinous