Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Paramour entices with notes of blueberry, iris, leather, chocolate cake, and cigar on the nose. A rich attack of layers of flavor include cherry, plum, coffee, and chocolate with bright acidity. Soft and silky tannins lead to a long finish, with cherry, blueberry, plum, and currant lingering on the palate.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot, the 2019 Paramour Proprietary Red was sourced from the Schifflet, Hudson and Stagecoach Vineyards. Blessed with floral notes, licorice and black cherries on the nose, this looks like the pick of the litter and is one reason why Napa Cabernet Franc prices are what they are. This is full-bodied and rich yet seemingly weightless, despite being concentrated, long and velvety. This is just lovely stuff.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Beautiful black fruits, tobacco, graphite, and a crushed stone-like sense of minerality all emerge from the 2019 Paramour Proprietary Red, a medium to full-bodied, seamless, beautifully balanced red. Based on 60% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, it's going to evolve for 15+ years with no issues.
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James Suckling
Spice, chocolate, blackberry, blueberry and walnut aromas follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Some citrus undertones. Brightness and focus. Drink after 2025, but already beautiful.
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Vinous
The 2019 Paramour opens with striking Franc aromatics. On the palate, the 2019 is quite a bit more reticent. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha and sweet spice build leading into the heady, substantial finish. My impression is that the 2019 has much to offer, but in the future. Readers should be prepared to cellar this for another handful of years.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.