2022 Peter Michael 'Au Paradis' Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA (750ml)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES:

The deep ruby 2022 ‘Au Paradis’ exhibits an attractive array of black currant, violets, blackberries and dried red rose petals with black tea and garrigue accents. The silky entry and dense, rich mid-palate are supported by plush, velvety tannins and lead to a long, lingering finish. This is a refined and polished Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot

TASTING NOTES:

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis contains 21% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. It has singular, inviting aromas of blueberry, black cherry, juniper, thyme, violet and dark chocolate. The full-bodied palate is just as expressive, offering power and concentration without sacrificing elegance. Its graphite and floral-laced flavors are structured by luxuriously powdery tannins and bright acidity, and it has a very long, layered finish.

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 pts. 

Coming from Oakville in Napa, the 2022 Au Paradis is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Merlot. It’s ripe with notes of preserved plum, dark stones, olive, mocha, and dark earth. The palate is ripe and full, and its tannins feel a bit more approachable and ripe, with more hints of mocha coming through on the finish. It’s full and decadent, and they did what they could to retain the freshness in this very challenging vintage. It’s long on the palate, and while it might not have the same longevity and tension as the 2021, it’s a strong wine to drink over the coming 10-12 years.

- Jeb Dunnuck, 95 pts. 

Highly scented and perfumed blue fruit on the nose, smells fresh and fragrant. Tobacco, dried herbs, blackcurrants, plums and black cherries. Super floral but also with some savoury earth tones as well as tobacco and cedar. Fleshy and almost chewy, mouth filling but delicately, the tannins have a soft grip. I like the cooling blue fruit and graphite aspect with liquorice, aniseed and clove. Wide and ample in the mouth but lifted and not heavy, elegant and polished. Complex flavour and really nice layering, there’s no shortage of flavour and there’s gorgeous tannins but the alcohol heat and spice poke through at the end and just create a bit of a narrowing of enjoyment. Aging 18 months, 60% new oak. Harvested over eight days from September 10-17.

- Decanter, 95 pts. 

Though flirting with jammy, this offers enticing loganberry, boysenberry and açaí fruit flavors that deliver juicy energy, while licorice snap and fruitcake details ripple through the finish. A showy style, but this pushes through on the finish, while most ’22s don't.

- Wine Spectator, 92 pts. 

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis is dense, powerful and packed to the core. There's notable density and concentration, but it's hard to get past some of the awkward contours and overall astringency. I find the oak signature pretty overpowering as well. Hints of blackberry, chocolate and licorice linger.

- Vinous, 90 pts.