Search results for: 'paradis napa valley red white'

Matthias Planchon is a talented and determined young winemaker, representing an old line of winemakers in Sancerre. He broke with the family tradition of selling his grapes to negociants or taking them to the Cave Cooperative in Sancerre. He took over the domaine in 2014 and, until 2018, collaborated with Alphonse Mellot by selling him his grapes. Alphonse Mellot confirmed his decision to work with organic and even biodynamic viticulture. The vines are located in Sancerre, with the superb limestone terroir of “Le Paradis” adjacent to the domaine's cellar. In total, the domaine covers 5.5 hectares, part of which is still sold to negoce Alphonse Mellot, leaving only 4,000 bottles of whites and 600 of reds bottled under the domaine's name. The white wines are bright, pure and intense in flavor, and after decanting reveal a rare saltiness and mineral-articulated length on the palate. These are wines built with a vertebrate column, the result of a huge amount of work in the vines to match the vines to the rock. Le Paradis brings the generosity of limestone, embraces the contours of the mouth and unfolds in length. Matthias vinifies 30% of the grapes in barrels of 500-600L, the rest in stainless steel.

From the winery:

The 2023 "The Dude" is a meticulously assembled blend of fruit drawn from prestigious Napa Valley appellations: Calistoga, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain. The wine was refined for 16 months, utilizing 40% new oak to elegantly frame the fruit while allowing the terroir to shine.

Composition 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

97 Points! Hailing from Oakville, the 2019 Au Paradis is nuanced, with ripe redcurrant, fresh tobacco, and sweet baking spice. The palate is fully dry and has lift through its dark fruited profile. The midpalate is flush with roses and ripe red plum, giving way to a well-balanced, tannic structure. Drink 2024-2044. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Pouring an opaque red, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis is lush and refined with aromas of cassis, espresso, violets, and sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, this refined profile continues on the palate, with a ripe, velvety texture, fine tannins, and notes of black cherry liqueur and mocha, as well as floral oils that last long on the palate without feeling heavy. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

A ridiculously good value-priced blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the Gamble Family Estate in the heart of the Napa Valley!

The (Gamble Family) Mill Keeper White Wine Napa Valley 2021 is a blend of fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc and round, fruity Chardonnay. As some of you may recall from these pages before, the Gamble Family Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best in the valley. But did you know that Gamble’s Chardonnay fruit is the foundation of the Beringer Reserve Chardonnay program? Crazy, right?

Together, that blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay aged in 21% new French Oak for 10 months delivers an easier, rounder hypothetical mash-up of those two wines. The Sauvignon gives vibrancy and focus, and the Chardonnay provides an ample middle. What a ‘white wine’ for the money!

99 Points! The 2016 Au Paradis is borderline perfection in a glass and shows the incredible quality both of this estate and the vintage. Tons of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, savory spice, dried earth, and graphite notes all emerge from this full-bodied, structured, concentrated effort that reminds me of a First Growth Pauillac. With building tannins and incredible purity of fruit, it’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle and keep for three decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Coming from Oakville, the 2018 Au Paradis gives up a deep ruby/purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, green tobacco, lead pencil, sandalwood, and dried flowers. Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, with silky yet present tannins, it's one of those elegant, seamless wines that surprise you with its richness and depth. It reminds me of a great vintage from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou and is a brilliant, elegant, complex Cabernet that will evolve for two decades or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Coming from Oakville, the 2018 Au Paradis gives up a deep ruby/purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, green tobacco, lead pencil, sandalwood, and dried flowers. Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, with silky yet present tannins, it's one of those elegant, seamless wines that surprise you with its richness and depth. It reminds me of a great vintage from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou and is a brilliant, elegant, complex Cabernet that will evolve for two decades or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

58% Cabernet Sauvingon, 42% Tempranillo. Still unique in Napa, after 10 years – the PARADOR Napa Valley Red Wine is inspired by the great blended wines made at Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero. Utilizing great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the dramatic Hossfeld Vineyard located in Soda Canyon, and blending with the Tempranillo to make a sumptuous, velvety wine with great aging potential. After blending in the spring following harvest, the wine is aged 2 ½ years in a combination of 30% new and the balance, used French oak barriques and puncheon barrels. 

Cabernet Sauvignon from Hossfeld Vineyard – Steep, terraced planting on eastern Napa Valley hillside bowl in Soda Canyon. – Farmed by hand for the highest quality by owner, Henry Hossfeld. Typically deep-colored, with faint mountain-thistle and dark berry character.

Tempranillo from Rancho Chimiles Vineyard – This virgin vineyard site was cleared and planted for the Parador project by Terry Wilson, landowner and grower, from cuttings and plants originating from the Ribera del Duero. – The vineyard is planted at an elevation of 1000 feet and on a slope filled with sandstone rock.

94 Points! The 2023 Red Wine is a fabulous Grenache/Syrah blend. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, dried herbs, lavender and mocha are all beautifully dialed up. Floral overtones add striking finesse and lift. What a gorgeous and vivid wine this is. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! The 2023 PharoahMoans Red Wine is a 50-50 blend of Carneros Grenache and Pope Valley Syrah, but despite omitting Mouvèdre, it is the best vintage of this wine this taster has sampled. Pretty florals—violets and roses—join tea-like, potpourri-ish nuances and berry fruit in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Lively, fresh and complex, the palate is framed by silky tannins and displays ample length on the finish. It's a super value, as long as you're not hung up on Bordeaux varieties or fancy mid-valley AVAs. - Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com

94 Points! This Rhone-style blend is unusual in Napa Valley and gives dark, earthy, savory flavors on a firm texture. Full-bodied, moderately tannic and restrained in fruit flavors, instead emphasizing singed herb, oak smoke, star anise and espresso flavors. A 50-50 blend of grenache and syrah grapes. Drink now or hold. - Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.Com

Blend:  58% Cabernet Sauvignon / 42% Tempranillo. Reserva is an assemblage of the very best barrels of a great vintage - aged 3 years in 2 new Sylvain puncheon barrels. It was then aged in bottle, released in June of the tenth year from the vintage.

Still unique in Napa,  the Parador Napa Valley Red Wine is inspired by the great blended wines made at Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero. Utilizing great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the dramatic Hossfeld Vineyard located in Soda Canyon, and blending with the Tempranillo to make a sumptuous, velvety wine with great aging potential.

Cabernet Sauvignon from Hossfeld Vineyard – Steep, terraced planting on eastern Napa Valley hillside bowl in Soda Canyon. – Farmed by hand for the highest quality by owner, Henry Hossfeld. Typically deep-colored, with faint mountain-thistle and dark berry character.

Tempranillo from Rancho Chimiles Vineyard – This virgin vineyard site was cleared and planted for the Parador project by Terry Wilson, landowner and grower, from cuttings and plants originating from the Ribera del Duero. – The vineyard is planted at an elevation of 1000 feet and on a slope filled with sandstone rock.

91 Points! The 2022 Papillon Red Wine is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each Malbec and Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. It also includes a bit more than 5% of 2021 vintage wine, so it is labeled as Napa County, rather than Napa Valley. All the bookkeeping aside, it offers plenty of ripe cherries and a faint herbal streak on the nose, a full-bodied, silky-textured palate and a welcome bit of cedar (it spent 13 months in 40% new oak) on the charming, supple finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

96 Points! The 2019 Amuse Bouche, a Right Bank-inspired Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is superb. Expansive, sweet aromatics are immediately seductive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plum fruit, sweet tobacco, chocolate, spice and leather. This wonderfully expressive, elegant Napa Valley red hits all the right notes in a mid-weight, nuanced style that is all class. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2007 Proprietary Red comes from a standout Napa Valley vintage and reflects a moment when Scott Palazzo’s blending philosophy reached a new level of confidence and clarity. This wine builds on the foundation of earlier releases while showing greater depth and precision. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and never released to the public until now, making this a rare opportunity to experience a fully mature Napa proprietary blend in its most age-worthy format.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with layered aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, and plum, accented by cedar, tobacco, and warm spice. On the palate, it is rich yet composed, with concentrated dark fruit framed by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Subtle notes of cocoa and savory earth add complexity. The finish is long and polished, showing depth and harmony enhanced by extended aging in magnum.

The 2011 Proprietary Red was shaped by a notably cool Napa Valley growing season, producing wines defined by freshness, structure, and restraint. This vintage aligns closely with Scott Palazzo’s long-standing admiration for classical Bordeaux blends, emphasizing balance and age-worthiness over power. Bottled in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for private members until this first public release.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with savory aromatics of dried herbs, red currant, and subtle floral notes, layered with cedar and earthy nuance. On the palate, it is focused and linear, offering tart cherry, cranberry, and gentle spice framed by bright acidity and fine-grained tannins. The finish is clean and persistent, with a refined, elegant profile that has been beautifully preserved in magnum.

92 Points! At $45 a bottle, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon La Grande Roche from Ric Forman and Cheryl Emmolo's Rossi Wallace label might very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Freshly cut flowers, red cherry fruit, mint, blood orange and spice are all very nicely lifted. This is an especially elegant, refined Cabernet Sauvignon done in a supremely understated, mid-weight style. The 2023 is a total delight. All of this fruit is from the Forman estate. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The 2009 vintage brought warmth and generosity to Napa Valley, and this Proprietary Red reflects a more expressive, fruit-forward profile while remaining grounded in structure and balance. By this point, Scott Palazzo’s blending vision was firmly established, producing wines that combine richness with restraint. The magnum format was held back exclusively for members and has never before been offered to the public, underscoring the rarity of this release.

Tasting Note:
The nose opens with ripe black cherry, blackberry, and plum, complemented by notes of baking spice, cedar, and cocoa. On the palate, the wine is smooth and generous, showing layered dark fruit supported by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Savory undertones add dimension, and the finish is long, warm, and cohesive, with the magnum format lending added poise and longevity.

93 Points! Based on 100% Sauvignon Blanc and aged nine months in 50% used French oak, 20% new French oak, and 30% concrete egg, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc AE offers lots of citrus and grapefruit hints with plenty of background grassy, herbal nuances. Medium gold-hued, it's medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a classy finish. This impeccably made Sauvignon Blanc will keep for 3-4 years with ease. Drink 2025-2029. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! The 2024 AE White Wine is the second wine, 100% Sauvignon Blanc made and matured nine months in a mix of vessels (50% used barrels, 20% new barrels and 30% concrete egg). Passion fruit, crushed stone and grapefruit notes on the nose lead into a medium- to full-bodied wine. It's plump, rounded and generous, but it still retains bright acids and a lingering, mouthwatering finish. It's a terrific value in Napa Sauvignon Blanc. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com