Paradigm Estate Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 99]

About the Winery:
Paradigm Winery is founded and owned by Ren and Marilyn Harris, two winegrowers with extraordinarily deep roots in Napa Valley. Starting with a prune orchard that they purchased and replanted to grapes in the late 1960s, in 1975, after years of selling their grapes, Ren and Marilyn founded Paradigm Winery and began producing wine with the 1991 vintage.

Paradigm consists of four contiguous parcels totaling fifty five acres. Paradigm is a self-contained winery estate; including fifty acres of vineyard, the winery, two homes, a warehouse, a barn and an acre of olive trees.

About the Winemaker:
Heidi Barrett was the very first winemaker at Paradigm and hand-crafted every vintage through 2024. A Napa Valley native and a graduate of UC Davis, Heidi is the winemaker for some of Napa Valley's most highly-regarded wineries. Heidi's philosophy in making wines for Paradigm is simple: she feels that she is working with an extraordinary vineyard site that has been farmed impeccably for years. She lets the fruit from this vineyard express its quality and unique terroir with minimal intervention.

About this Wine:
One of only four wines produced by Paradigm, this is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It is aged 20 months in French oak barrels (60% used, 40% new), followed by 20 months in bottle.

Winemaker Heidi Barrett's Notes:
Deep and dark in color, this wine showcases the rich aromas of Oakville Cabernet—blackberries, black cherries, cassis, and berry jam. We age in 40% new French oak, perfectly complementing the fruit from our distinctive vineyards. The flavors seamlessly reflect the aromas, creating a classic Oakville Cabernet experience. With a silky mouthfeel and a beautifully balanced structure, it’s a testament to the consistency and delicious style long appreciated by fans of Paradigm.

Ratings & Reviews

99 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"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." - Jonathan Cristaldi (Dec 2024)