Paso Robles and Points South

Although often lumped in with other appellations in California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles has its own distinct culture and values, both of which are clearly reflected in the wines. In recent years, a number of outside investors have arrived in Paso, attracted by, among other thing, large tracts of land that are virtually impossible to find in other parts of the state. Law, Epoch and Daou are all sprawling properties on a scale that is completely different from the norm in most parts of the Central Coast, with the exception of a few properties in Santa Barbara.

At the same time, a younger generation of winemakers has begun to emerge, which creates a compelling contrast between the super luxurious, no-expenses-spared estates and much more artisan wineries producing just a handful of barrels of wine. Rhône varieties have garnered much of the attention in recent years, but Paso’s early history was built on Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which can be exciting here.

Law Estate

Lastly, I continue to see an evolution in winemaking towards styles that are more transparent to site than in the past. Within a global context, the wines of Paso Robles are naturally rich, powerful and intense on their own, so winemaking doesn’t need to highlight those attributes, they are already in the fruit. The much bigger challenge is to keep wines from being excessively heavy. The greater use of whole clusters in Rhône varieties and the increased presence of cement in the cellars are but two of the developments that are recent to Paso within just the last few years. My own belief is that we are just at the beginning of what will one day be viewed as the beginning of Paso’s modern-day history.