2015 The Paring Syrah Santa Ynez Valley

Two Star-Studded Estates, One Paring

What makes today’s 2015 The Paring Syrah such a heavy hitter? The Paring is the second wine of two star-studded estates: First, there’s JONATA in Ballard Canyon — the sister winery of Screaming Eagle which Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has loaded up with 97-100 point scores.Then, there’s HILT Estate in Santa Barbara’s prized Sta. Rita Hills AVA which leverages iconic Bentrock and Radian Vineyards to produce some of the area’s most exciting and highest scoring wines. The winemaker behind both estates is Matt Dees, who learned to make wine from 100-point winemaker Andy Erickson (formerly of Screaming Eagle) and at Napa’s Staglin Family Vineyard, as well as iconic New Zealand winery Craggy Range. At JONATA, Matt crafts “La Sangre de Jonata,” a silky, aromatic Syrah which earned 99 points from Robert Parker’s former Rhône critic, Jeb Dunnuck. The Paring is modeled after “La Sangre,” grown from the same estate vineyards at legendary JONATA, and aged in 35% new, 65% neutral French oak barrels. The result is a deep, dark-fruited Syrah, rich yet finessed, boasting powerful smoke, earth, and spice aromatics — all in keeping with its highly pedigreed parents. 85 cases available at $19.99 per bottle.

Since founding JONATA in 1999, the owners of Screaming Eagle have demonstrated the same commitment to the land in Ballard Canyon as they have in Oakville. They spared no expense in evaluating the potential for growing world-class wines, calling in an “A-Team” from France to conduct soil samples. Once the report was produced, the well-heeled proprietor pushed ahead with selecting 80 of the almost 600 acres for the planting of Rhône and Bordeaux varieties. When Matt Dees arrived in 2004 he took one look at the unique potential of JONATA’s sandy soil, another look at how much the owners had already poured into their Oakville winery, and signed on the dotted line. A decade later, Dees and the team at JONATA have achieved greatness in more ways than one. 2015’s The Paring offers JONATA’s fruits in an incredible under-$20 package.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.40%
• Enjoy right away
• Drink Up
• % Syrah
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork