" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Du Pape Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2019 (Magnum)
No longer available.
| Country: | France |
| Regions: | Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape |
| Winery: | Grand Veneur |
| Grape Type: | Grenache |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Vintage: | 2019 |
| Bottle Size: | 1500 ml |
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These are Magnum bottles!
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah
Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%)
It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a gorgeous perfume of crushed rocks, jammy black fruits, charcoal and graphite. Blackberry aroma with an air of dates pressed in alongside – this is sweet-noted. It is easy to appreciate, a sleek and stylish start. The palate holds excellent fruit that runs well and has kick. Its tannins move round freely and a minted finale comes forward. Its dark fruit is tasty, darkens on the finish, where tar and char from its oak enter. It is all very much together, a bundle of harmony, and will gain local attributes as it ages.
An outstanding Chateauneuf du Pape which display the best of its terroir.
The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.
Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).
The vineyards are located in the north of Châteauneuf du Pape. GRAND VENEUR «Vieilles Vignes» cuvee is produced from the older vines. Thanks to time and an organic growing, roots go very deep in the soil. Yields are naturally low and grapes highly concentrated.
The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.
Winemaking and aging
Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).
Pair with venisson, duck, braised lamb or strong cheese.
Review:
"Up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer wine than the Les Origines cuvée and has a beautiful core of smoked black fruits, candied violets, peppery garrigue, and scorched earth-like aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s flawlessly balanced and has terrific tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It certainly shows the more front end-loaded, fleshy, mildly concentrated style of the 2018 vintage, yet the balance is top-notch, and it’s just a thrill to drink today. It should evolve nicely for 10-15 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020),96 pts
Review:
Up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer wine than the Les Origines cuvée and has a beautiful core of smoked black fruits, candied violets, peppery garrigue, and scorched earth-like aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s flawlessly balanced and has terrific tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It certainly shows the more front end-loaded, fleshy, mildly concentrated style of the 2018 vintage, yet the balance is top-notch, and it’s just a thrill to drink today. It should evolve nicely for 10-15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is more red-fruited than either the 2019 or 2017, less dense and, therefore, easier to drink. It's still full-bodied, rich and velvety, with ample length and perhaps just a touch of warmth on the finish.
-Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker) 95 Points
Opaque ruby. Expansive, oak-spiced cherry and blackberry scents are complemented by suggestions of candied violet, licorice and mocha. Lush and weighty on the palate, offering ripe red and dark berry flavors and hints of fruitcake and cola. Shows serious power and spicy lift on a long, gently tannic finish that echoes the cherry and licorice notes.
-Josh Raynolds (Vinous) 94 Points
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Le Miocene is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre .
An intense dark-ruby color. The nose develop aromas of ripe black fruit (such as blackberry), cherry and spice box. The palate reveals the presence of tannins, in high quantity and elegant. The finish is long and luxurious. This is the Châteauneuf du Pape expression, displaying all the characteristics of the terroir.
Soil type: Plots are located northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and the vines are grown under organic process.The soil is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium. The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain. The GRAND VENEUR cuvee will express year after year a great power and aromatic complexity.
Winemaking & ageing: Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats and oak casks.
Review:
A classic nose of deep red and black cherries is embraced by captivating violet perfume and saffron-cardamom spice. The palate is concentrated, supported by youthful tannins and a generous wave of acidity that refreshes the palate and provides lift to its intense dark-fruit finish. This expression will be exciting to revisit even after a few years of cellaring.
-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Miocene is the best vintage of this bottling I can remember tasting. Red raspberries and black cherries come together harmoniously on the nose, accented by hints of garrigue, clove and allspice, while the full-bodied palate is richly concentrated, creamy-ripe in feel, with supple tannins and a long, lush finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.
-Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker) 94 Points
Moving to the reds, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocene has lots of red and black fruits as well as a touch of iron in its sappy garrigue and peppery, Provençal aromas and flavors. This balanced, medium-bodied, straight-up classic Châteauneuf du Pape will be loved by the Southern Rhône wine drinkers out there. It will keep for 10-12 years. The blend is 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, destemmed and brought up mostly in concrete tanks (no new oak). Readers will be hard pressed to find a better run estate than Domaine Grand Veneur, which has been run by the Jaume family for decades. While the top cuvées, particularly the Les Origines and Vieilles Vignes, can see a touch of new oak, this never detracts, and these wines are always loaded with Southern Rhône soul and character.
-Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
Aromas of the blackest wild berries with delicate notes of hot dry...
-James Suckling 92 Points
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Le Miocene is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre .
An intense dark-ruby color. The nose develop aromas of ripe black fruit (such as blackberry), cherry and spice box. The palate reveals the presence of tannins, in high quantity and elegant. The finish is long and luxurious. This is the Châteauneuf du Pape expression, displaying all the characteristics of the terroir.
Soil type: Plots are located northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and the vines are grown under organic process.The soil is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium. The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain. The GRAND VENEUR cuvee will express year after year a great power and aromatic complexity.
Winemaking & ageing: Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats and oak casks.
Review:
The traditional release, based on 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, and aged 14 months in 30% neutral barrels with the rest in concrete, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène offers gorgeous black cherries, darker berries, ground pepper, leather, and a hint of graphite. It's medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and offers fine tannins. With roughly 3,750 cases produced, this impeccably made wine will drink well for 10-15 years if well stored. Drink 2025-2040. There are few better run estates in the world than the Jaume family's Domaine Grand Veneur. Located in the northern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and run today by brothers Christophe and Sébastien Jaume, the estate produces a quasi-modern style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with some of their cuvées seeing some new oak. Nevertheless, these never lose their Southern Rhône soul. The range includes three red Châteauneuf-du-Papes: Le Miocène (the traditional release, 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 14 months in 30% neutral barrels with the rest in concrete), Les Origines (always the most modern styled effort, 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and 20% Syrah, aged 16 months in 50% new barrels), and the Vieilles Vignes (45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah from old vines, aged 16 months in 55% new barrels). The whites are also are brilliant, with their La Fontaine Blanc being pure gold in white Rhônes and riveting stuff in just about every vintage. It’s a richer, textured, concentrated style of white geared for the dinner table. Across the board, these are impeccably well-made wines that always check in near the top of a vintage. Readers should note that the estate also produces a larger number of négociant wines bottled under the "Alain Jaume" label.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Le Miocene is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre .
An intense dark-ruby color. The nose develop aromas of ripe black fruit (such as blackberry), cherry and spice box. The palate reveals the presence of tannins, in high quantity and elegant. The finish is long and luxurious. This is the Châteauneuf du Pape expression, displaying all the characteristics of the terroir.
Soil type: Plots are located northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and the vines are grown under organic process.The soil is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium. The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain. The GRAND VENEUR cuvee will express year after year a great power and aromatic complexity.
Winemaking & ageing: Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats and oak casks.
Review:
The traditional release, based on 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, and aged 14 months in 30% neutral barrels with the rest in concrete, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène offers gorgeous black cherries, darker berries, ground pepper, leather, and a hint of graphite. It's medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and offers fine tannins. With roughly 3,750 cases produced, this impeccably made wine will drink well for 10-15 years if well stored. Drink 2025-2040. There are few better run estates in the world than the Jaume family's Domaine Grand Veneur. Located in the northern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and run today by brothers Christophe and Sébastien Jaume, the estate produces a quasi-modern style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with some of their cuvées seeing some new oak. Nevertheless, these never lose their Southern Rhône soul. The range includes three red Châteauneuf-du-Papes: Le Miocène (the traditional release, 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 14 months in 30% neutral barrels with the rest in concrete), Les Origines (always the most modern styled effort, 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and 20% Syrah, aged 16 months in 50% new barrels), and the Vieilles Vignes (45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah from old vines, aged 16 months in 55% new barrels). The whites are also are brilliant, with their La Fontaine Blanc being pure gold in white Rhônes and riveting stuff in just about every vintage. It’s a richer, textured, concentrated style of white geared for the dinner table. Across the board, these are impeccably well-made wines that always check in near the top of a vintage. Readers should note that the estate also produces a larger number of négociant wines bottled under the "Alain Jaume" label.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Le Miocene is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre .
An intense dark-ruby color. The nose develop aromas of ripe black fruit (such as blackberry), cherry and spice box. The palate reveals the presence of tannins, in high quantity and elegant. The finish is long and luxurious. This is the Châteauneuf du Pape expression, displaying all the characteristics of the terroir.
Soil type: Plots are located northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape and the vines are grown under organic process.The soil is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium. The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain. The GRAND VENEUR cuvee will express year after year a great power and aromatic complexity.
Winemaking & ageing: Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats and oak casks.
Review:
A real success, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Miocène exhales a dense, complex bouquet of cassis, dark berries, flowers, garrigue and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, layered and tense, it's enrobing and charming with a fleshy core of fruit, great freshness and a long, precise finish. This is a blend of 70% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, all destemmed and matured for 14 months in a combination of used barrels (30%) and concrete tanks. It offers a broad drinking window and should see its 20th anniversary in fine form.
-Yohan Castaing (Robert Parker) 94 Points
The 2022 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Miocene checks in as 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, all destemmed, that was raised mostly in tank, with the Syrah and Mourvèdre in oak. It has a beautiful nose of ripe red and black fruits that give way to more licorice, black olive, peppery garrigue, and spices. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's balanced and has ripe, building tannins and a great finish. It's going to evolve gracefully for 10-12+ years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
A huge wine, fruity and powerful, but fresh too. Mouthcoating fresh berry fruit, fine tannins, well-balanced acidity and good length. Technically very impressive. A little herbal note brings some complexity. A good value option, for those that enjoy powerful, tannic Châteauneufs for early drinking (though will age well too). 30% aged in old oak, the rest in concrete tank.
-Decanter World Wine Awards 93 Points
A seductive, well-crafted and precise organic red. It has notes of sweet...
-James Suckling 92 Points
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Les Origines is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah
Matured in vats (grenache) and in oak casks (syrah and mourvèdre).
Deep and brilliant, purple-red colour. An exciting nose with aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant, cherry) spices and vanilla. This great aromatic complexity is found on the palate : the spices and ripe fruit appear with an elegant woodiness and harmonious tannins. The finish has good aromatic length and introduces a touch of liquorice and pepper.
A terrific Châteauneuf du Pape with great concentration and finesse.
Best between 2 and 20 years. Best to decant if young (less than 5 years old).
Soil type Extreme north of Châteauneuf du Pape. This plateau is made with a high quantity of red clay mixed with rocks. This area is considerated to be one of the best to produce rich and powerful red wines. By definition, LES ORIGINES will always deliver a great complexity and ageing potential. Winemaking & ageing Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats (grenache) and in oak casks (syrah and mourvèdre).
Review:
The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape les Origines, a blend of approximately 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah, is terrific this year, with hints of baking spices adding nuance and softness to the baked blackberry fruit. Full-bodied, velvety and long, this packs in plenty of pleasure and flavor.
-Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker) 95 Points
The huge nose of violet pastilles, mulberries, smoked bacon and a touch...
-James Suckling 94 Points
Probably the most modern styled in the lineup, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Origines is 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah. It’s completely destemmed and aged 16 months in 50% new barrels, with the balance in concrete tanks. It shows its élevage with a touch of spicy wood but has classic southern Rhône-like notes of black raspberries, cassis, licorice, pepper, and cured meats. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and nicely concentrated, it’s a beautiful wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and keep through 2035. Readers will be hard pressed to find a better run estate than Domaine Grand Veneur, which has been run by the Jaume family for decades. While the top cuvées, particularly the Les Origines and Vieilles Vignes, can see a touch of new oak, this never detracts, and these wines are always loaded with Southern Rhône soul and character.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Product Description
These are Magnum bottles!
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah
Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%)
It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a gorgeous perfume of crushed rocks, jammy black fruits, charcoal and graphite. Blackberry aroma with an air of dates pressed in alongside – this is sweet-noted. It is easy to appreciate, a sleek and stylish start. The palate holds excellent fruit that runs well and has kick. Its tannins move round freely and a minted finale comes forward. Its dark fruit is tasty, darkens on the finish, where tar and char from its oak enter. It is all very much together, a bundle of harmony, and will gain local attributes as it ages.
An outstanding Chateauneuf du Pape which display the best of its terroir.
The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.
Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).
The vineyards are located in the north of Châteauneuf du Pape. GRAND VENEUR «Vieilles Vignes» cuvee is produced from the older vines. Thanks to time and an organic growing, roots go very deep in the soil. Yields are naturally low and grapes highly concentrated.
The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.
Winemaking and aging
Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).
Pair with venisson, duck, braised lamb or strong cheese.
Review:
"The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is based on 45% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah, all destemmed and raised in 55% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, violet, graphite, fruitcake, and peppery herbs define this brilliant effort, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, seamless texture, wonderful tannins, and one heck of a great finish. This magical 2019 is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (it's brilliant even today) yet keep for 20 years or more. Châteauneuf du Pape lovers need to have this in their cellar!"
- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2021),99 pts
Winery: Grand Veneur
The Grand Veneur Estate
In 1320 Pope Jean XXII planted the first vines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but it was only in 1360 that the wines of the region first gained fame. Oddly, the wine that gave Chateauneuf-du-Pape its original reputation was the Blanc and not the Rouge. The white wine was a favorite of Pope Innocent VI. The Domaine dates back to 1826, having been founded at that time by Mathieu Jaume. Since 1979, Alain Jaume has run the Domaine and now has the help of his two sons: Sebastien and Christophe.
"Popes throughout history have liked their juice, and when the papal see moved to Avignon in the 13th century, that juice was Chateauneuf-du-Pape ("the pope's new castle") made from grapes grown nearby in the Southern Rhone. The castle is a ruin now, the papal court long gone back to Rome, but the wines that bear the pope's coat of arms emblazoned on the bottle are still produced more or less according to the long-standing recipe. Not every winemaker uses all 13 of the grapes in the proscribed blend, though. At Domaine Grand Veneur, an estate that dates to 1826, Alain Jaume and his sons Sebastien and Christophe emphasize Grenache blended with Syrah and Mourvedre."
- Los Angeles Times
"Improved Chateauneuf with very accomplished, stylish reds since the late 1990s; also very good Vacqueyras and Cotes-du-Rhone Villages." - Anthony Dias Blue's pocket guide to wine 2006
"Grand Veneur is one of the most brilliant estates in Chateauneuf du Pape as well as the force behind the negociant wines sold under the Alain Jaume label. Virtually everything they produce has merit. Some of this estate’s 2009 red wines are just hitting the market as they are bottled early to preserve their fruit and freshness. I can’t say enough about the job Alain Jaume’s two sons, Sebastian and Christophe, have done with this estate. The impeccable attention to detail in the vineyards, the meticulous vinification, and the careful bottling benefit every consumer." - Wine Advocate (#190, August 2010)
"Great bargains continue to emerge from Domaine Grand Veneur as well as from their negociant arm of the business, labeled Alain Jaume" - Wine Advocate (#195, June 2011)
"Don't miss the following "Best Buys" reviewed in several previous issues: Alain Jaume 2010 Cotes du Rhone Haut de Brune (87), Grand Veneur 2010 Cotes du Rhone Blanc (88), Grand Veneur 2009 Cotes du Rhone Les Champauvins (89), Grand Veneur 2009 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Blanc (89), Grand Veneur 2010 Cotes du Rhone Blanc (91), Grand Veneur 2010 Cotes du Rhone Rose (86), Grand Veneur 2009 Lirac Clos de Sixte (91), and Grand Veneur 2010 Cotes du Rhone Blanc de Viognier (89). Credit Christophe and Sebastian Jaume for making this one of the most impeccably run estates in the Rhone Valley. To reiterate, this is an estate at the top of its game and the wines remain fairly priced as well. The 2010 Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Papes reveal youthful, crisper, more focused styles than their 2009 counterparts. I suspect their pHs are lower, the total acids slightly higher, and the alcohols perhaps .5 to 1% lower across the board." - Wine Advocate (issue197, October 2011)"
The Grand Veneur Vineyard
The estate is located in the commune of Orange and consists of 50 hectares (123 acres). It covers four different appellations: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes-du-Rhone Villages, Cotes-du-Rhone and Lirac.
The family produces wines under two labels:
- Domaine Grand Veneur – Estate
- Alain Jaume – Negociant
Some wine by Grand Veneur:
- Domaine Grand Veneur, Clos de Sixte, Lirac Rouge
- Reserve Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône Rouge
- Reserve Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône Blanc
- Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône "Blanc de Viognier"
- Reserve Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône Rosé
- Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône Rouge, Les Champauvins
- Grand Veneur, Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge, Les Champauvins
- Grand Veneur , Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
- Grand Veneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, La Fontaine
- Grand Veneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
- Grand Veneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Les Origines
- Grand Veneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Vieilles Vignes
- Domaine Grand Veneur, Marc de Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Annual production:
- Cotes du Rhone Villages CHAMPAUVINS : +/- 9,000 cases
- Lirac Rouge CLOS DE SIXTE : +/- 5,000 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Grand veneur : 3,300 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Grand veneur : 400 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape LES ORIGINES red : 1,700 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape LA FONTAINE white : 300 cases
- Chateauneuf du Pape VIEILLES VIGNES : 530 cases
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Review:
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Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.
With its intense color and inviting aromas of dark berries, licorice, baking spice and a hint of smoke, the Pedestal is a bold wine that leaves a lasting impression. Dark fruit flavors integrated with sweetness from the barrel and richness from the tannins come together seamlessly, lingering across a structured mid-palate and lengthy finish.
Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes were double-sorted to remove green material that might impart harsh tannins, then most of the lots were cold soaked to build richness and flavor before undergoing whole-berry fermentation in 55L upright French wood tanks. This, combined with gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation, enhanced the wine’s color, texture and mouthfeel. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels.
Review:
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-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
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-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 Points
LASER ETCHED MAGNUM!
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
20 months in French oak (only about a third of that is new oak) and for 20 more months in bottle before release
Our winemaking "style" is solely determined by this place or terrior we call "Paradigm." Winemaking is agriculture when you own your vineyards and are able to farm them to promote the very best Earth will give you. All of our selections of wines are made from five varietals on the estate. Every wine is 100% farmed and grown by us.
Complexity in our wines supported by luscious fruit and acidity is our hallmark. Our efforts during harvest and barrel cellaring concentrate on maintaining the freshness from the first day we handpicked each vineyard block. Simple winemaking protocols are employed while crucial “timing” oriented winemaking decisions rule each day.
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
Review:
The 2016 Paradigm is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. This is a stunning wine, currently in a phase of compact fruit and impressive density that highlights its remarkable potential. Notes of black currant pressed violets and rose petals dominate the profile, underpinned by a deep vein of electric acidity, black truffle, and loamy earth. The full-bodied richness builds beautifully on the palate, showcasing a seamless integration of superfine tannins already beautifully polished at this stage. This wine is a testament to patience—please hold onto this as long as you can, as it promises to evolve into something extraordinary over time—a masterpiece of balance, density, and elegance. I find myself shaking my head over the lack of critical praise for these wines over the years and applaud the consumers who have locked into a spot on the mailing list at Paradigm because they are world-class wines from pedigreed vines, ageworthy, and offer just about the best QPR (quality-to-price ratio) in Napa these days.
-Decanter World Wine Awards 99 Points
LASER ETCHED MAGNUM
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
20 months in French oak (only about a third of that is new oak) and for 20 more months in bottle before release
Our winemaking "style" is solely determined by this place or terrior we call "Paradigm." Winemaking is agriculture when you own your vineyards and are able to farm them to promote the very best Earth will give you. All of our selections of wines are made from five varietals on the estate. Every wine is 100% farmed and grown by us.
Complexity in our wines supported by luscious fruit and acidity is our hallmark. Our efforts during harvest and barrel cellaring concentrate on maintaining the freshness from the first day we handpicked each vineyard block. Simple winemaking protocols are employed while crucial “timing” oriented winemaking decisions rule each day.
Review:
With small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this is classic Oakville—from gravelly soils, it is textured and cohesive with structure to spare. A warm vintage, it shows power and intensity in the form of juicy black currant, clove and brown sugar, lengthy and richly inviting on the supple palate.
-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
Tasted from magnum (although the estimated cost provided is for a 750-milliliter bottle), Paradigm's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate comes from the winery's estate vineyard on the southwestern border of the Oakville appellation. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 20 months in French oak, it boasts seductive aromas of black cherries and cassis, plus ample cedar and vanilla. Rich, velvety and even a touch warm on the palate, it's open and opulent, ideal for drinking over the next decade or so.
-Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker) 92 Points
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec.
A classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with inviting violet, dark fruit, tobacco, subtle baking spice and earthy dried herb aromatics. The palate is filled with expressive black cherry, blackberry and dark plum, hints of spice box and sweet vanilla bean. A focused, concentrated wine with youthful energy and freshness nimbly balanced by supple tannin structure and finesse.
Review:
This wine is lovely in juicy red fruit, dried herb and hints of allspice, the tannin structure firm and giving. Offering refinement and structure, it shows nuances of black currant, cherry and toasted oak. This will do well in the cellar.
Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection 94 Points
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Fenocchio DOC Nebbiolo Langhe Bussia is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
The color is a deep ruby red with garnet reflections and an intense and fruity bouquet of plum and cherry. The flavor is dry with good body, well balanced tannins and harmonious with hints of licorice and rose.
Parcel is 2 hectares (5 acres) planted at 300 meters above sea level.
Pairing well with all types of food, from appetizers to cheeses with red and white meat.
Review:
Fragrant, displaying aromas of red forest fruits and floral notes. Angular tannins underpinned by crisp acidity with a lingering and juicy finish.
-Decanter World Wine Awards 90 Points
Orin Swift Machete is made from Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache.
Machete is one of Dave Phinney’s signature Orin Swift reds — a dark, dense California blend led by Petite Sirah, with Syrah and Grenache, aged in French oak. Brooding and plush, it layers black fruit, cracked pepper, cigar box, and dark chocolate, carrying the swagger and striking artwork that made Orin Swift a cult name.
Winery Info: Orin Swift Cellars was founded by Dave Phinney in St. Helena, Napa Valley, in 1998. Built on boldly sourced fruit from across California and instantly recognizable, provocative label art, Orin Swift has become one of the most talked-about names in modern American wine.
Review:
The 2020 ‘Machete’ is a proprietary blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache that was stored in 34% new French oak for 14 months before bottling. A soft texture greets you as green peppercorns greet you alongside black currant jelly, cigar ash and dark chocolate shavings with kirsch cordial notes. Considering the vintage, this is a really good effort.
–Owen Bargreen, 92 Points
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