The Paloma Vineyard experienceRecently updated
A tasting at Paloma feels less like a formal Napa wine experience and more like being invited up the mountain for a glass of something great with a good friend. Tastings are small, personal, and usually hosted by a member of the family or someone who actually works in the vineyard or winery—so questions are encouraged, wine talk can get as nerdy (or not) as you want, and there’s no tasting-room script to follow. Settle in, taste through estate-grown wines, hear a few family stories, and take in one seriously hard-to-beat view of Napa Valley.
About Paloma VineyardRecently updated
These Spring Mountain Merlot masters have been doing their thing for decades, and today Sheldon Richards and his son Caston are carrying the family legacy forward. From their hidden spot high above Napa Valley, the Richards family farms their estate vineyard and makes seriously good Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon: with views that basically erase reality. It’s small, hands-on, family-run, and refreshingly un-Napa in all the right ways.
Tasting Experiences
VarietalsRecently updated
Wines
Merlot
2017 · 72
The 2017 Paloma Merlot fills the glass with luscious aromas of dark, ripe plum, blackberry, and hints of thyme. On the palate, the wine presents a rich, hearty mouthfeel, with consistent notes of ripe, black fruits and a pleasingly, lingering finish. Showing beautifully in its youth, this offering will evolve seamlessly, offering years of enjoyment. While an ideal candidate for pairing with a broad range of rich foods, the 2017 Merlot is a meal in itself.
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Merlot
2018 · 72
The 2018 is a luscious Merlot. In the glass, the color exhibits deep garnet tones. On the nose, you're greeted with notes of violet, dark fruit, black licorice, and pepper. On the palate, you'll note signs of hearty ripe plums, black olives, anise, and a finish of rich, dark chocolate. This would pair beautifully with grilled steak, portobello mushrooms, and strong-flavored cheese!
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Merlot
2019 · 72
92 Points, Wine Specator "Supple and generous, yet handsomely structured, with detailed red currant and cherry flavors highlighted by toasty spices and savory anise as this builds tension toward polished tannins."
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Merlot
2021 · 72
94 points, Wine Spectator “Rich and plush in texture, with generous, multilayered flavors of red currant and cherry laced with spicy cinnamon and mocha espresso. Finishes with polished tannins.”
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Merlot
2022 · 72
94 Points, Wine Spectator "Silky in texture and gracefully multilayered, offering detailed flavors of black cherry and red currant that take on hints of mocha, vanilla and toasty spices that linger on the supple finish."
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Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 · 84
The 2019 Paloma Cabernet Sauvignon bursts out of the glass with waves of rich black and red fruits and a distinct note of cocoa in the background. This is a lush wine with a big mouthfeel, displaying beautiful purity of fruit. Consistent notes of dark cherry and plum combine with hints of black pepper and olive. The finish is long and silky. This wine will beautifully complement a hearty beef dish. Likely to evolve slowly, enjoy this beauty over many years.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 · 84
93 points, Wine Spectator “There’s a lovely, savory sparkle to this version, which relies on red currant and bitter plum fruit for its core, while sage, bay and wet conifer accents are sprinkled liberally throughout. The sleek finish shows a subtle twang of iron. A pretty Cabernet.”
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Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 · 84
Medium red color. Aromatics are dried red berry and dried prune with floral red plum notes. This wine is coy, it has a subtle bing cherry flavor when first sipped, it doesn't reveal its true flavor of summer strawberries and a cherry jolly rancher chewiness until the finish. A fatty meat sauce like hungarian meatball spaghetti or roasted duck would highlight this wine's features.
AcquireVisiting Paloma Vineyard
- Tasting fee
- $60 to $100 per person
- Reservations
- Required
- Tasting room
- Open to visitors
When to visit Paloma VineyardRecently updated
Good to know about Paloma Vineyard
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Where to find Paloma Vineyard
4013 Spring Mountain Rd
St Helena, CA, United States of America