The vision for Paramount goes against the grain of convention set in recent decades of what a wine from Napa should be. The Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, along with Merlot and Petit Verdot, harmonize with New-World creativity to allow the changing composition of percentages from vintage to vintage. Finesse, subtlety and strength. This is a wine greater than the sum of its parts. We strive to showcase the best of each vintage – the outstanding achievements of our vineyards and winemaker in a given year. The final blend is drawn from fruit grown on exceptional vineyard sites stretching the length and breadth of the Napa Valley, each with its own unique and expressive terroir.
In the cellar of winemaker Jim Close, the four varieties that define Paramount are all harvested and aged separately. After gently destemming and cold soaking, each variety is fermented, pressed and transferred to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. A 20-month aging process follows, and ultimately, the separate lots become one, as Paramount is blended and bottled. In a region dominated by single variety wines, Paramount rises above.