Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 94% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah, and a splash of Viognier, the 2017 Syrah gives up a terrific bouquet of blackberries, plums, ground pepper, and meaty, earthy notes to go with a medium to full-bodied, plump, sexy style on the palate. It's beautifully done and a stunning value. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years or so. Readers looking for a great Syrah at a great price should snatch this up.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Pairing Syrah 2017 is a well-defined wine nicely showing the character of the grape variety. TASTING NOTES: This wine is grapey and appealing with delicate tension throughout the wine. Pair it with grilled pork belly over jasmine rice. (Tasted: February 3, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
The vineyard and winemaking team behind Jonata & The Hilt Estate present The Paring; a focused collection of wines with a goal to craft an honest and delicious bottle of wine for every occasion and table.
o In kitchens around the world, the Paring knife has become a chef’s staple for its versatility. The Paring wines were created with this same intent. Full of vibrance, complexity, and versatility, the wines are a perfect compliment to every occasion.
o The Paring Wines are sourced primarily from our estate vineyards in Ballard Canyon & Santa Rita Hills and trusted vineyards in Northern California to produce wines that are a true expression of classic California style. Blocks from the select vineyards are designated for The Paring ahead of harvest and made with the same intention and care that goes into the wines of Jonata & The Hilt Estate.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.