Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 750ml, Oakville, Napa Valley, California

(par’ – a – dime) noun. An example that serves as a pattern or model. A pattern for perfection. Paradigm Winery, located in the Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, hand-crafts small quantities of estate-bottled red wine. Paradigm Winery is owned and managed by Ren and Marilyn Harris, two winegrowers with extraordinarily deep roots in Napa Valley. Heidi Barrett is well-known as the original winemaker for Screaming Eagle, but Paradigm is her secret sleeper from Oakville in Napa Valley. The 2017 vintage is deeply pigmented with ruby/garnet color. First sniff is Napa Valley Cabernet all the way. Nice layers of ripe berry and cherry-like fruit with a matching complement of toasty French oak from an assortment of coopers and different barrel ages. Gorgeous across the palate with a silky yet dense mouthcoating impression. Ripeness is key and the result is a wine with perfect balance and flow – just plain delicious. It’s a big, beautiful wine now, but has tremendous aging potential.