2022 Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis Oakville Napa Valley (1.5 L) Magnum

The raised plateau sits at 500–600 feet on the eastern flank of Napa Valley, looking west across the valley floor toward the Mayacamas. Below lies Dalla Valle. Above, tracing the same ridge toward Pritchard Hill, sits Continuum. In between is Au Paradis—French for “in heaven”—26 acres of Bordeaux varietals rooted in Boomer loam, volcanic-origin soils that drain freely, push vines deep, and concentrate what they produce.

Sir Peter Michael purchased the property—then known as the Showket Vineyard—in 2009. He had founded his estate in Knights Valley in 1982, after a glass of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay convinced him that California could rival Burgundy and Bordeaux. Oakville was the missing piece. The winery remains in family hands, now guided by Paul Michael and his wife Emily, under the founding philosophy—mountain vineyards, classical winemaking, limited production—printed on every back label since the beginning.

Robert Fiore joined as winemaker in 2020 with a background built for this terrain. A geophysicist who investigated rock formations across the globe before earning a master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, he spent three years alongside Tim Mondavi at Continuum Estate—directly uphill on Pritchard Hill—before joining Peter Michael. His approach is neoclassical and hands-on: native yeast, hand sorting at every stage, and the finest French oak.

The 2022 season was the third consecutive drought year at Au Paradis. Low winter rainfall and a warm early spring triggered early budbreak through flowering, fruit set, and veraison. A prolonged heat event in early September compressed the harvest to just eight days—yielding small, concentrated berries with structure built for the long term.

The blend—77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot—was sorted three times by hand, fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged 18 months in 100% French oak. It was bottled unfiltered.

In magnum, Au Paradis finds its fullest expression. The 1.5-liter format slows the aging arc, gives oxygen more gradual access across a greater volume of wine, and allows the 2022’s considerable structure the time it needs to resolve.