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passion in paso Print
Written by Nikitas Magel   

It was precisely this balance between very ripe fruit and bright acidity that I found in a number of the better reds poured at A Taste of Paso Wines, strongly suggesting that many of their producers had planted in sites to maximize that effect. Because Paso Robles is a region known overwhelmingly for its red wines, and also quite simply because I'd concentrated on whites at another tasting earlier in the same week, I thought it best to focus on tasting only the reds. Based on what I perceived had good balance, varietal typicity, and high quality-to-price ratio (QPR), following are what I feel were the standouts among the red wines I sampled at this event (AVAs are all Paso Robles, except where otherwise indicated):

Aside from what I felt were most noteworthy, I noticed that overall, among the wines poured, there was a heavy representation of Cabernet Sauvignon (and its blends). This alone isn't surprising, given that the varietal dominates planted acreage in Paso Robles. But since this region is garnering increasing attention for its southern Rhône-style wines, I would have expected far more representation of those — certainly more than the smattering of them I did taste (a couple of which are mentioned above). In fact, some producers who are distinctly known for their Syrah were curiously absent altogether. Could it be that many producers are waiting until the Rhône Rangers tasting event to pull out all the stops? With 121 members in the Paso Robles wine association, 82 of which produce Syrah — and 15% of California's total Syrah vines being planted in the region — I can only guess.

My concerns over varietal representation notwithstanding, across the board I was very pleased at the quality of the wines poured at A Taste of Paso Wines. They show a region assertively claiming a place at the table of California wines, engaging increasingly with grace, panache, and charm. If this is what we're seeing today, may the industry brace itself for an even greater impact the region will have on stage of world wines.

For specific details on A Taste of Paso Wines, visit the organization's website or contact Karen Rose Bria, whose hard work in helping to organize the event ensured its smooth success. For more general information on the region and its wines, visit the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance online. end

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