FOOD & WINE
Pour the Paso, Exploring the best bottles from the emerging wine region By Alison Bailin Batz
aso Robles is a winemaking region on the rise. Located along California’s Coast, Paso Robles winemaking dates back to the 1980s, but it was the well-received Saxum brand in 2010 followed by Wine Enthusiast naming it the Wine Region of the Year in 2013 that really brought acclaim to the area. Today, there are more than 200 wineries and 40,000 vineyard acres producing at least 60 types of varietals. Here are a few of our favorites: 2020 Justin Vineyards Rosé Dry yet refreshing with a pale salmon color when poured, the nose is exceptionally floral at first before giving way to berry and apple notes. To the taste, there is an ever-so-slight hint of strawberry and then bigger flavors of melon, raspberry and chamomile. $20 2018 San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon A triumph from the famed Riboli family, who’ve been making wine across California for more than 100 years, this cab benefits from aging in a selection of French and American oak barrels, which allows for the wine to develop aromas of baking spices and vanilla before dark fruit and a balanced acidity takes over on the palate. $25
J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Blend A perfect entrée to the bold-yetsmooth wines of the region, this blend of J. Lohr’s cabernet and petit sirah dances across the nose and onto the lips with a bouquet of cocoa powder, caramel and star anise. Then, black cherry joins the party, soon becoming the star of the sip. $27
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Vina Robles 2018 Petite Syrah Structured and elegant with hints of caramel throughout, this rich red comes alive on the palate with bursts of boysenberry and plum before offering a creamy finish that makes it ultra-drinkable all year long, but especially while stuck
inside during a summer monsoon. $29 Chronic Cellars 2019 The Unteachables Do not let the playful name fool you. This is neither a CBD-infused wine nor a kitschy cheap tourist one. A wild child of a bottle, there is a punch of blueberry in every sip as well as blackberry and mocha notes, both balanced by leather before finishing with one final knockout hit of juicy black fruit. $30 One Hope Paso Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon There is not a much better pairing than red wine with chocolate. That is what makes this varietal so special
