Peter Michael - Au Paradis - Napa Valley 2020

Peter Michael - Au Paradis - Napa Valley 2020

In 1982, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael purchased 630 acres of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley. Following Sir Peter’s '100 by 100' vision, 100% family ownership for at least 100 years and drawing inspiration from the great wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the family hired like-minded viticulturists and winemakers to help them create terroir-driven wines that would stand the test of time. Today, with the support of his son, Paul and his wife, the Peter Michael winery still adheres to its original founding principles of mountain vineyards, classical winemaking, and limited production.

Grown in the heart of the Oakville AVA’s famed red dirt in Napa Valley, ‘Au Paradis’ is a wine that transports any wine lover, hence its celestial name, which translates as “In Heaven.” Planted in the foothills on the east side of the valley on a raised, gently sloping plateau, the Bordeaux varietals develop into a classic style with silky tannins and deep red fruit. Between 500 and 600 feet, 26 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot look down on the valley and across to the Mayacamas Mountains.

The 2020 vintage

The video of the vintage: https://youtu.be/R3JMHfFssjQ

Weather conditions

2020 saw the first February with no rainfall in recorded history. The rains eventually arrived, with some particularly late storms into May and even the very beginning of June, which resulted in a good water profile in the soil at the beginning of the growing season. The weather during bloom was temperate and resulted in good fruit set and fairly normal yields. During most of the growing season, 2020 was fairly cool, punctuated by a series of heat spikes in late August and early September, then fairly warm temperatures through harvest.

Tasting notes

The ruby red 2020 ‘Au Paradis’ exhibits a complex floral and fruity nose of black currant, cassis, violets, black plum, and red raspberry. The wine showcases great structure with mouth-coating, velvety tannins in the late midpalate that resolve in a long, lingering finish.