One of the unique wineries in Napa that focuses on capturing the art of blending, Paraduxx is located on the Silverado trail and was founded in 1994 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn as the only Napa Valley winery focused exclusively to making Napa Valley blends. Their first vintage was a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Petite Sirah. Since that time there has been a surge in other blending projects, most notably the great Orin Swift wines.
Cardiff Scott-Robinson serves as Paraduxx winemaker and was formerly the assistant winemaker at Paraduxx. I really enjoyed his wines from the 2017 vintage. The 2017 Paraduxx ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine (OB, 91) is a southern French style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that has a really nice smoky edge. Even better is the 2017 Paraduxx ‘Atlas Peak’ Red Wine (OB, 92) is an awesome Sangiovese based wine that has great finesse and a soft mouthfeel. Learn more about these great wines at https://www.paraduxx.com/ Here are the great new releases by Paraduxx.
2019 Paraduxx ‘Proprietary White’ White Wine- This comes off very Rhone style white with beeswax and cantaloupe flavors alongside good minerality and tension. The rich viscosity really adds to the experience. Drink 2021-2026- 92
2017 Paraduxx ‘Candlestick’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Candelstick’ is a great blend of Syrah (60%) and Grenache (40%) that saw 50% new French oak for eighteen months before bottling. Ripe figs and mocha tones mingle with blackberry compote and tobacco leaf tones on the palate. Full-bodied and rich, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2017 Paraxduxx ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine- A Provence inspired blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine shows nice smoky tones on the nose with shades of cardamom and black currants that are woven together with anise and red florals that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and fresh with a great sense of texture and weight. Rich red and dark fruits meld with chocolate and tobacco tones on the palate. Great to enjoy in its youth, this outstanding new wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2017 Paraduxx ‘Cork Tree Vineyard’ Red Wine- Truly a one of a kind Napa blend of 55% Malbec with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, they 2017 ‘Cork Tree Vineyard’ Red Wine was aged in 50% new French oak for eighteen months prior to bottling. Creme de cassis and creme de violette tones mingle with dried herbs, tar and coffee ground flavors on the palate. Dense, chewy and downright fantastic in its youth, this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2035- 92
2017 Paraduxx ‘Atlas Peak’ Red Wine- A unique blend of Sangiovese (67%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), this shows spicy red fruits on the nose alongside tobacco leaf, leather and blackberry pie with loamy soils that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush showing a seamless texture and wonderful length. Gorgeous now, with firm tannins holding everything in place, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2033= 92
2017 Parduxz ‘Rector Creek’ Red Wine- A great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, the wine shows rich bramble tones alongside Bing cherry, pipe tobacco and mocha tones. Medium to full-bodied, with great acidity and length, the 2017 ‘Rector Creek’ Red Wine is outstanding now at the four year mark and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92