Peter Michael 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis Napa Valley 97 Points

Jeb Dunnuck 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.”

Vinous 97 Points: “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Au Paradis is elite.  Bright and aromatic, with terrific delineation, the 2019 is a fabulous yet embryonic wine that just needs time to flesh out.  The energy and drive here are remarkable, as is the expression of this vineyard in the Eastern Hills of Oakville.  Dark red/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, sage, mint and rose petal lend quite a bit of nuance.  In a vintage so many wines are all about immediacy and overtness, Au Paradise is a wine for the future.

Robert Parker 96 Points: “In 2009, Peter Michael purchased the former Showket Vineyard in Oakville, on the hillside below Continuum and above Dalla Valle. That is the source for the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot. Matured in 60% new French oak, it’s a fairly forward, opulent wine, marked by scents of cigar box, tobacco, cassis, cherries and fine leather. Full-bodied, rich and velvety without being chocolaty or overdone, the lingering finish is—texturally—plush winter-weight flannel pajamas interwoven with complex, faintly herbal threads..”

Winemaker Notes: “The 2019 ‘Au Paradis’ displays a deep ruby hue in the glass, with a brilliant, aromatic array of black cherry, cassis, blackberry compote, and violets, accented with hints of graphite, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. On the palate, the round, mouth-filling entry showcases high-quality, fine-grained tannins with black tea and cocoa powder notes before giving way to a broad, structured, multilayered midpalate and resolving into a seamlessly elegant finish with great length. This classic ‘Au Paradis’ combines elegance with power. Approachable even in its youth, it will improve with five years to two decades of cellaring.