Paloma (Spanish for “dove”) sits on a steep, tree-lined ridge at the very top of Spring Mountain. A short drive from San Francisco, it’s seemingly miles away from anywhere, with sweeping vistas of the vine-carpeted valley floor. The success of the wine is a result of the terroir, the various micro-climates, the Richards’ dedication to farming, and multi-generational winemaking.
High above the Napa Valley and the morning fog, Paloma Vineyard is generally about 10 degrees cooler on hot summer days than the valley floor. The more moderate temperatures, our volcanic soils, and the unique sun exposures around the very top of Spring Mountain are what make Paloma wines so special, adding layers of complexity to the mid-palate and long finishes.
We started making wine in 1994 and by 2000, Paloma Vineyard wines began to garner outstanding reviews. The 2001 vintage of the Paloma Merlot, named Wine Spectator’s “WINE OF THE YEAR” in 2003, sparked a loyal following for our elegant, mountain fruit wines. Paloma Merlot graced the Top 100 again in 2006 and 2009 at 54th and 65th, respectively. Our 2001 and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon also received honorable mentions from James Laube of Wine Spectator.
Paloma continues to produce first-class Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for our faithful followers from around the world.
"Sleek and elegant, with appealing red currant and cinnamon aromas and flavors of cherry, sage and dark chocolate. A solid Merlot in a tough vintage. Drink now through 2020."
"Densely structured, mixing deep fruit with mineral-tinged tannins. Aromas of currant and olive lead to firm flavors of bitter chocolate, cedar and herb."
“[The 2013] exhibits plenty of plum, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, mocha and coffee bean in a lush, delicious and opulently textured style. It is drinking beautifully already and will continue to evolve for another decade or more.93 points.”
“With its amazing aromatic depth and chiseled focus, this bottling joins 2001, 2007 and 2012 in the pantheon of truly great Paloma Merlots... If five to twelve years from it’s full maturity, [the 2013] is a fascinating beauty already.”
"...a big, world-class red wine capable of improving with bottle aging for 10 to 15 years. Complex aromas of black berry fruits, black stone fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spice and floral notes with a mineral overtone. On the palate the wine has a big silky mouth feel, well balanced, with flavors of berries, fruit, cocoa, cassis, and spice, and a long spicy finish."
“This wine [2015] is on the richer end of the Napa spectrum, with its opulent black fruit and mouth-coating texture. But, for all that, it’s very pretty and surprisingly subtle, too.”
Paloma Merlot is a blend of estate grapes: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon ranges from 14 to 16 percent depending on the vintage. The resulting wine is a big, world-class red capable of improving with bottle aging for at least 20 years in most vintages. Although the characteristics of the wine vary with each vintage, they have a consistent thread of complex aromas of blackberry fruits, black stone fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spice, and floral notes with a mineral overtone. On the palate, the wine has a silky mouthfeel, is well balanced with flavors of berries, fruit, cocoa, cassis, and spice, and enjoys a long spicy finish. The addition of the Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure, rich fruit, and a subtle increase in tannins.
At Paloma, our Cabernet Sauvignon is pure. Aged in French oak barrels–a third new–our vintages exhibit a deep, intensely concentrated style red packed with layers of opulence. Our Cabernets deliver a complex mix of zesty, vibrant wild berry, raspberry, currant, and blackberry fruit in a firm, seamless way. Full-bodied and improving with every sip, they end with a complex mix of espresso and wild berry.