Paddington Down 2021 Napa & Sonoma

53% Cabernet Sauvignon
41% Merlot
6%% Petit Verdot

Our third release of Paddington Down, and most exciting to date, takes us back to our cofermenting roots. We have long favored this early-marriage of varietals over the typical, albeit very romantic blending table scenes commonly shared. A tale of two cofermentations actually, starting in mid-September with Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot from Sonoma’s Bedrock Vineyard and eventually blended with a cofermentation of our Deer Park Cab Sauv and a new Coombsville Cabernet vineyard leased that year.

Aged in 70% new French Oak for 20 months.
Purple hues coat the glass opening with black cherry, black currant, and roasted coee bean aromas. Raspberry, black cherry, new leather, and crushed gravel bomb the palate. A youthful attack of Cabernet Sauvignon is wrapped in velvety Merlot texture extending the long Petit Verdot stained finish.

175 cases produced
abv: 14.3%
pairing: Prime Rib, Asparagus with Sauce Béarnaise and Yorkshire Pudding

92 points JamesSuckling.com

A dark-colored, dark-fruited, Bordeaux-style blend laced with blackberries, dried blueberries and black cherries on moderate tannins. Based on cabernet sauvignon with merlot and a dash of petit verdot. Shows good concentration, focus and purity of fruit. Blended from Sonoma County and Napa County grapes. Drink or hold. ~ 92 Points

-Jim Gordon Executive Editor