We at the Paso Robles CAB Collective are delighted that our fourth annual CABs of Distinction Media & Trade event exceeded all expectations. Thanks to those of you who made this event so wonderfully successful!
Over 200 media and trade attended educational events and tastings that provided a glimpse of 
the true potential of Cabernet Sauvignon and red Bordeaux varietals from our appellation. Highlighted events included En Primeur barrel tastings from the as-yet-unreleased 2015 vintage; a tasting of all current vintages; “The Other Cabernet” vintner panel session hosted by Bob Bath, MS, CHE, Instructor of Wine & Beverage Studies at The Culinary Institute of America; “Know Your Cab Clones” vintner panel session hosted by Matt Kettmann, contributing editor of Wine Enthusiast and senior editor of Santa Barbara Independent; and “Judgment of Paso” panel session hosted by a panel of leading sommeliers from Southern California and out of the area, including moderator Scott Young, CS, CSW, Director of Operations, Blackhouse Hospitality Management.
In collaboration with The SOMM Journal, the PRCC developed a three-day, comprehensive, educationally-focused tour of the Paso Robles AVA that explored Cabernet and red Bordeaux varietals. The 21 select sommeliers and key wine buyers participated in hands-on, instructional experiences with area winemakers and vineyard managers including: component tastings; analysis of clonal selections; vineyard tours; winemaker dinners and an optional zip-line over vineyards, in addition to the tastings and panel sessions mentioned above.
Anchoring the event, The Judgment of Paso placed CAB Collective member wines next to those from Napa and Bordeaux and proved that 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. 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.
The wines from the 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,” said Joyce.
