1999 Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Cabernet - 95 pts! - 1st Vintage!
Claude and Katherine Blankiet searched many years for a track of land on the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Napa Valley with the single vision of producing world class wines. In January of 1996 they had the chance to view an undeveloped hillside above the Napanook vineyard in Yountville that their agent had secured a hold for one day. Without any hesitation, the Blankiets bought the land on the spot and named it Paradise Hills.
Paradise Hills Vineyard is located on three volcanic knolls separated by alluvial swells deposited by the creeks draining the mountain range. Soil profiles vary from deeply fractured rocks and volcanic ash to thick clay deposits. Viticulturist David Abreu and winemaker Helen Turley were brought in to develop Paradise Hills Vineyard into four distinct sections. Each sub-section is distinguished by unique subsoil and microclimate. Moreover, meticulously selected root stocks were grafted with clonal varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot procured from first growth Bordeaux estates.
