The Paring Pinot Noir 2021
The Paring wines are the second label from the acclaimed Hilt and Jonata properties. The Paring Pinot Noir consists of small lots of fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills estate vineyard of Salsipuedes that do not make the cut into The Hilt wines. While not technically biodynamic, the vineyards of Salsipuedes — Bentrock, Radian and Puerto Del Mar — are farmed to the highest standards; creating a functioning polyculture of bee hives, herds of ruminants, fruit, olives and of course, grapes. No artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used. The winemaking here is identical to that of The Hilt wines; fermentations are entirely native with no added nutrients, enzymes, acids or sugars. In fact, the Paring and Hilt wines are completely identical up until elevage, which is shorter, and utilizes a higher proportion of stainless steel and neutral oak barrels.
Offering immediate drinking pleasure without sacrificing the complexity and nuance that makes this grape so compelling. A wine brimming with seductive fruit alluring aromas and supple tannins. The consummate overachiever.
Ratings
Crisp cranberry and boysenberry f lavors meet with dusty sage, uncracked peppercorn and crushed rock on the nose of this bottling. It’s medium- to heavier-bodied on the palate, where blistered berry, marjoram, red flower and light toast flavors align.
- 91 points, February, 2023, Matt Kettmann
Tasting Notes
bright red fruit; cherries and plum
bold
spice
round palate
The Paring wines are the second label from the acclaimed Hilt and Jonata properties. The Paring Pinot Noir consists of small lots of fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills estate vineyard of Salsipuedes that do not make the cut into The Hilt wines. While not technically biodynamic, the vineyards of Salsipuedes — Bentrock, Radian and Puerto Del Mar — are farmed to the highest standards; creating a functioning polyculture of bee hives, herds of ruminants, fruit, olives and of course, grapes. No artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used. The winemaking here is identical to that of The Hilt wines; fermentations are entirely native with no added nutrients, enzymes, acids or sugars. In fact, the Paring and Hilt wines are completely identical up until elevage, which is shorter, and utilizes a higher proportion of stainless steel and neutral oak barrels.
Offering immediate drinking pleasure without sacrificing the complexity and nuance that makes this grape so compelling. A wine brimming with seductive fruit alluring aromas and supple tannins. The consummate overachiever.
Ratings
Crisp cranberry and boysenberry f lavors meet with dusty sage, uncracked peppercorn and crushed rock on the nose of this bottling. It’s medium- to heavier-bodied on the palate, where blistered berry, marjoram, red flower and light toast flavors align.
- 91 points, February, 2023, Matt Kettmann
Tasting Notes
bright red fruit; cherries and plum
bold
spice
round palate
The Paring wines are the second label from the acclaimed Hilt and Jonata properties. The Paring Pinot Noir consists of small lots of fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills estate vineyard of Salsipuedes that do not make the cut into The Hilt wines. While not technically biodynamic, the vineyards of Salsipuedes — Bentrock, Radian and Puerto Del Mar — are farmed to the highest standards; creating a functioning polyculture of bee hives, herds of ruminants, fruit, olives and of course, grapes. No artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used. The winemaking here is identical to that of The Hilt wines; fermentations are entirely native with no added nutrients, enzymes, acids or sugars. In fact, the Paring and Hilt wines are completely identical up until elevage, which is shorter, and utilizes a higher proportion of stainless steel and neutral oak barrels.
Offering immediate drinking pleasure without sacrificing the complexity and nuance that makes this grape so compelling. A wine brimming with seductive fruit alluring aromas and supple tannins. The consummate overachiever.
Ratings
Crisp cranberry and boysenberry f lavors meet with dusty sage, uncracked peppercorn and crushed rock on the nose of this bottling. It’s medium- to heavier-bodied on the palate, where blistered berry, marjoram, red flower and light toast flavors align.
- 91 points, February, 2023, Matt Kettmann
Tasting Notes
bright red fruit; cherries and plum
bold
spice
round palate
VARIETAL COMPOSITION Pinot Noir
REGION California
COUNTRY United States
APPELLATION(S) Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley
PROPRIETORS Stan Kroenke
FOUNDED 1996
WINEMAKER Matt Dees
Made from the vineyard blocks that are either too young or don't fit into the vintage style of the highly acclaimed Jonata and The Hilt wines—The Paring is essentially a "chip off the old block." The grapes are sourced primarily from three Santa Barbara regions on the vanguard: Ballard Canyon, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley.
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 wineries - Jonata and The Hilt.
