pair of ducks at Paraduxx
We went to Paraduxx on the recommendation of a frequent member of the weirdcombos tasting crew, Carey M. She had gone there a few months prior and remembered it to be an excellent experience.
The winery is the “child” of Duckhorn, located further north in Napa. At the “parent,” like much of Napa, they produce Bordeaux style blends. Paraduxx mixes things up a bit, primarily focused on zinfandel blended with cabernet sauvignon and merlot: sort of Californian Bordeaux blends, if you will. Of course, that’s the source of the unusual name: Paraduxx combines “paradox” for the unusual blends with “pair of ducks” to signal that this is the second winery chronologically in the Duckhorn empire. It’s cute bordering on precious.
The tasting room looks understated from the front though inside was remarkable with a very high ceiling, lots of windows overlooking the back yard and contemporary styling. It was a beautiful day—ninety degrees and sunny– so we sat out back on a shaded porch.
The winery web site recommended a reservation. We went on a Saturday at 1PM. There were other groups there but I feel certain that you could have walked in and been accommodated.
some Paraduxx vines
2009 Blackjack Napa Valley Rosé
All tasting is done at table rather than standing at a bar. You place your order at the entrance and are then seated. We were offered complementary tastes of their rosé while they prepared our zinfandel blends. There are two tastings: the Essential and the Enhanced. There were two of us that day so we had one of each and shared. The first is current releases and some library wines; the second, more rare bottlings and library wines. These were served with a small plate of select cheeses and crackers.
Some of the vineyards surround the property and they have a small but enjoyable garden off to one side. We strolled around it mid-way through our tasting, but apparently the staff became confused, as they began busing our table before we finished. I was very annoyed by that. Perhaps it was all for the best. I ended up drinking less.
some Paraduxx wines
2009 Blackjack Napa Valley Rosé: This was pink with pepper on the nose. We tasted raspberry and pepper. Refreshing.
2007 Blackjack Napa Valley Red: This is a blend of 55% zinfandel, 23% petit verdot, 14% cabernet sauvignon, and a bit of merlot and cab franc. It was a purple color with mellow notes of tobacco, dark stone fruit and garrigue. It was fruity and peppery with a decent finish. We enjoyed it.
2005 Paraduxx: This is 60% zinfandel, 32% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. It was purple black without much nose. It was smooth with red and black fruit at the core.
2006 Paraduxx: This one is 64% zinfandel, 27% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. It, too, was purple black. Hegui noted musty “forest rot” on the nose. It had a rounded taste with some cherry and caramel with a peppery finish.
2007 Paraduxx: This is 72% zinfandel, 18% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. This was dark purple with scents of forest. This filled the mouth with flavor but had less structure. The zinfandel really shone through here.
Paraduxx interior
2007 Paraduxx Reflection: This one is 60 % cabernet sauvignon and 40% zinfandel. It’s the reverse in terms of the blend compared to the 2007 Paraduxx, hence the name. The wine was a purple black color that smelled of fudge. It was smooth, very silken with a long finish. It was one of our favorites.
2006 Postmark Monitor Ledge Vineyard: 61% zinfandel, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 4% merlot. This was purple black without much nose that we could tell. It had sour cherry and graphite notes with a root beer finish that was sustained.
2007 Postmark Rector Creek Vineyard: 66% zinfandel, 24% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 3% merlot. This was purple black with chewy tannins, some cherry and red fruit.
2007 Postmark Howell Mountain: 64% zinfandel, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot. This was purple black. We didn’t detect much aroma but by this time Hegui started to wonder about the glasses that they used. Perhaps they had some soapy residue? The wine was smooth and supple without sharp edges. We noted red currants and braised fruit.
Overall, this was a fun experience and good, though not excellent wine. We’re still skeptical about zinfandel blends and I’m not sure that I’d seek Paraduxx out over more traditional Napa wines.
welcome to Paraduxx and be careful