Nose

It's a powerful and complex wine, yet elegant and deeply scented with fragrant aromas of blackberry and dark chocolate. The dusty Rutherford fruit combines beautifully with the other cool-climate Cabernet lots, while the Carneros Merlot brings red cherry aromas and supple tannins. A small amount of the cedary, aromatic Vittorio's Vineyard Petit Verdot brings a mineral aspect and backbone and intensity to the composition.

Palate

Layers of succulent black fruit flavors plum, currant, cassis and savory, mocha-tinged tannins that linger through its supple and lengthy finish. An altogether elegant blend that is glorious now and will age wonderfully for several years to come.

Growing Conditions

Our 2009 Paradiso marks the third vintage in producing a world-class, Bordeaux-style blend to top V. Sattui's wine portfolio. Director of Winemaking Brooks Painter has fashioned a blend consisting of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Most of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Preston Vineyard, one of our top Rutherford Appellation vineyards, with the rest of the Cabernet from the new Coombsville AVA and Mt Veeder. The Merlot is from our Henry Ranch estate in Los Carneros and the Petit Verdot is from our estate Vittorio's Vineyard, adjacent to the winery in St. Helena.

Harvest

10/24/2011

Winemaking

Fermentation: Stainless Steel tanks

Aging

18 month barrel aged.