Red Blend 2018

Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1994, Paraduxx is the only Napa Valley winery dedicated exclusively to making Napa Valley blends. Paraduxx's philosophy is quite unique in the region, blending Bordeaux grape varieties grown in Napa Valley with non-Bordeaux grape varieties.

The estate's head winemaker, Don LaBorde, strives to create visionary blends that capture the essence of their Napa Valley terroir. Wines that are inherently ripe and compelling, but are also impeccably balanced. Made from a complex blend of multiple red grapes, this wine embodies both the richness and complexity of the Napa Valley terroir. After manual harvesting and careful sorting of the grape berries, the wine ages for 18 months in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new. This wine reveals aromas of ripe cherry , red currant , cranberry , blackcurrant , blueberries, cornflower , sandalwood , cloves , anise , chocolate , spices , cracked pepper and black tea . On the palate, the tannins are silky and smooth, with a fine acidity contributing to the balance of the wine. The finish is long and refined.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.