Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Wowed the World at Recent CABs of Distinction Event

Top sommeliers, winemakers and industry leaders declare Paso Robles Bordeaux-style wines to be among the world’s best after an “eye-opening” Judgment of Paso blind tasting.

The members of the Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective (PRCC) are proud to announce something they long knew: When tasted alongside some of the best reds from Bordeaux and Napa Valley, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style wines not only hold their own, but will win over some of the best palates on the planet.

This was proven without a sliver of doubt at the fourth annual CABs of Distinction in Paso Robles, held April 12-14, when industry leaders, wine experts and world-class sommeliers descended on the newly-opened and uber-luxe Allegretto Vineyard Resort to learn, taste and celebrate the region’s preeminent wine style.

The event not only attracted the most pros in its four-year history (more than 200), it cemented the region’s rightful place as a leading producer of high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style wines.

“This event has shown the world that like other great regions that grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso can deliver world class wine,” said PRCC Chairman and Winemaker at DAOU Vineyards & Winery, Daniel Daou. “The sommeliers were stunned with the quality of the PRCC producers and how these wines reflected the terroir they are grown on by showing concentration, complexity and depth.”

Held on the last day of the event in the Allegretto’s Veneto Ballroom, The Judgment of Paso placed CAB Collective member wines next to those from Napa and Bordeaux. Six sommeliers blind tasted eight wines along with a sold-out crowd. The sommeliers then debated and engaged the crowd as they spoke on the qualities of the wines and attempted to determine the origin. Few correct guesses were made, as many pros declared several Paso wines to be from Napa and vice versa. All were pleasantly surprised. “Well, I literally got almost all of them wrong,” said a humbled Scott Young, one of California’s leading wine professionals and the director of operations of Blackhouse Hospitality Management who moderated the tasting. “I’m officially one of the converted.”

The wines from the Paso CAB Collective included the 2012 Calcareous Vineyard Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 The Farm Winery LPF and the 2013 DAOU Vineyards & Winery Estate Soul of A Lion. The Bordeaux wines included the 2012 Pichon Longueville Baron and the 2012 Chateau Lascombes. The Napa Valley wines included the 2012 Chappellet Cabernet Pritchard Hill, the 2012 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine and the 2012 Continuum Proprietary Red.

“The Judgment of Paso was the culmination of what has been a four year journey in redefining our Cabernet program at Calcareous,” said Calcareous Vineyard Winemaker Jason Joyce who was in the audience during the blind tasting, blind to all but his wine on the panel.

“It was the belief among local winemakers that in order for the world to take us seriously, we must first take ourselves seriously. This meant truly believing that our vineyards produce fruit at an equal or greater level than any other region in the world. Then with this understanding, we must pull out all the stops and fully invest in our cellars to produce the best possible wines. The time and expense required was daunting, but with support and belief fostered among Collective members, this week helped prove that the region has achieved what we all set out to do,” concluded Joyce.

Sponsors of the Paso Robles CAB Collective include: Smurfit Kappa Orange County / Orange County Container Group; The Tasting Panel Magazine; The SOMM Journal; FIJI Water; Bruni Glass Packaging; Enartis Vinquiry; Seguin Moreau; Nomacorc; Travel Paso Robles Alliance; Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance; Nomacorc; Martinez Farming; Glenn Burdette; Portocork; Farm Credit West; Saury USA; Lafitte Cork & Capsule; Heritage Oaks Bank; Umpqua Bank; Cork Supply; Vintage Nurseries; Parker Sanpei; Cellotape Inc./Landmark Label; The Blueprinter & Graphics; Butlerz Events; Breakaway Tours; Allegretto Vineyard Resort.

ABOUT THE PASO ROBLES CAB COLLECTIVE

Formed in 2012, the Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective (PRCC) is an independent collaborative effort of leading Paso Robles growers and producers of Cabernet and red Bordeaux varietals specific to the Paso Robles AVA in California. The PRCC strives to promote the full potential of the Paso Robles region in producing superior quality, classic and age-worthy Cabernet and red Bordeaux varietals that compete with like varietals on a global stage to consumers and media worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pasoroblescab.com.