Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA 2015

Paradigm Winery is founded and owned by Ren and Marilyn Harris, two winegrowers with extraordinarily deep roots in Napa Valley. Their story began in 1958 when they met in high school in San Francisco. They married on February 6, 1965, at St. Joan of Arc Church in Yountville, with Ren working as a general contractor and Marilyn teaching the 4th-grade. In the fall of 1967, the annual trip to Yountville to help Marilyns father with the grape harvest became their last when they decided to stay.

A modest profit from a home they remodeled while living in San Francisco enabled them to put a downpayment on a prune orchard. Eventually they planted grapes in that former orchard. In 1975 they sold it to purchase the property that would become Paradigm. After years of selling their grapes, Ren and Marilyn founded Paradigm Winery and began producing wine with the 1991 vintage.

Dark Cabernet color with beautiful aromas of black cherry, cassis, plus 5-spice, vanilla. Big, ripe and mouthcoating across the palate. The flavors are similar to the aromas with ripe fruit, berry/cherry pie, moderate tannins, and nice length. This wine shows enough structure to be age-worth, yet soft and balanced enough to enjoy upon release. Flavors linger in this tasty, dense wine. Tastes like Oakville. -Heidi Barrett