Winemaker Notes
To the eye, 2016 Au Paradis presents a near black ruby color with violet highlights. The nose is elegant and packed with aromas of black currant and cassis with meaty nuances and touches of plum brandy, vanilla, caramel, clove and cinnamon. The flavors mirror the nose with additional notes of 'pain d'epices', fresh leather and olive, framed with plentiful, but fine-grained tannins and an iron-like minerality. The mouth feel is round, refined and complex with an incredible length of finish. Approachable now, the wine will handsomely reward five years of cellaring and will continue to age gracefully for two decades or more.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
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.
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James Suckling
Loads of blackberries, blackcurrants, pine needles, lavender, meat and hints of fresh sage. Full bodied and layered with fine tannins. So polished and beautiful. I love the polish, the gorgeous sensibility and length. Refreshing and bright. I have enjoyed tasting it and pondering its greatness. Try to drink after 2023.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.