Paradigm Wine Dinner at Cafe Maxx with Shawn Crowley

If you don't like the food, have more wine.
Anonymous

You will never leave a wine dinner at Café Maxx hungry but you will not need to drown Chef Oliver Saucy’s cutting edge food with average wines as we only do events with wines we like to drink.  We have been following this small winery in Oakville since the very beginning and are still impressed by the quality and the consistency of the wines produced here. 

Paradigm Winery, located in the Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, hand-crafts small quantities of estate-bottled red wine. This is my sweet spot for Napa Cabernet Sauvignons.  Oakville is located in the middle of the Napa Valley and contains some of the most sought after wines in all of the valley with names like Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Harlan Estate, Bond, Groth, Ghost Block, Vine Cliff and Plumpjack just to name a few- this is some of the most expensive dirt in all of the wine world.

Also the person making the wines is the venerable Heidi Peterson Barrett, one of the most sought after winemakers in Napa.  And unlike many of the small boutique wines that change consulting winemakers like they change label designs, Heidi has been here since day one.  Heidi's father, Dick Peterson, was instrumental in laying out and designing the winery.

Join us as we welcome Shawn Crowley from Paradigm winery to dinner as we showcase the current releases from this still “under the radar” winery along with a special five course meal prepared by Chef Oliver Saucy.  The fee for dinner is $125 + tax, for reservations c all 954-523-9463.

Paradigm Wine Dinner at Cafe Maxx with Shawn Crowley
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
7:00 PM

Sean Crowley came on board as the Director of Sales and Marketing in May 2010. Sean brings a diverse background in both wine sales and the hospitality industry. Sean spent the last three and a half years as the Trade Market Specialist for J Vineyards & Winery and was previously the partner and Director of Sales and Marketing for Acvs wines. He has twenty years of experience as a Sommelier and Wine Director at restaurants such as Stars, Boulevard, Aqua, Campton Place and The Ritz-Carlton, which has helped fuse his great passion of food and wine with his love of people and travel.

Sean is an avid reader, loves sports and actually believes that the Sharks will win the cup one of these years.

Reception

Blue point oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette
Strawberry Ancho tuna skewers
Chilled shrimp on whole wheat toast with caviar cream




Paradigm Rose 2010
Price: $24

This lovely cherry pink Rosé was made entirely from Merlot grapes from our Paradigm estate vineyard. Aroma is of fruity fresh strawberries and light cranberry. Flavors match the aromas in this easy to drink crisp, dry rosé. Very soft and round mouth feel, juicy and fresh clean finish. Chill and enjoy within 12 months. Best while fresh and fruity.

First course

Rare roasted veal carpaccio, sundried currants, petite arugula, gorgonzola crumbles
opal basil and chives with extra virgin olive oil



Paradigm Merlot 2007
Price: $44

Second course

Grilled duck breast and duck confit bread pudding, French green beans
red wine & cherry brandy demi glaze with golden beets



Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Price: $62

Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Price: $62
Gorgeous ruby red color with very open aromas of ripe berry, cherry, and cassis-like fruit. Layered aromas lead to matching rich ripe fruit in the mouth. Tannins are well integrated in this pleasing presentation of Cabernet Sauvignon. Flavors persist with a very long, well tiered finish. French oak was used in the wine but shows restraint. Emphasis is on the near-perfect ripening and wonderful balance. While drinking well now, the wine will benefit with future cellaring for many years


Third course

Green pepper dusted and seared filet mignon, roasted wild mushrooms and porcini-leek
Yukon mashed potatoes with cippolini onions



Paradigm Cabernet Franc 2008
Price: $58


The 2008 Cabernet Franc is a pretty ruby red color with classic aromas of sweet toast from our french oak barrels. There is a light herbaceous leafy note with some ripe blueberry and spice and a touch of green tea. It is quite lush and rich across the palate with moderate refined tannins. The flavors remind me of blueberry and plum and the balance is delicious.

Dessert

Chocolate and hazelnut truffle cake with Frangelica chocolate sauce

The fee for this dinner is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-782-0606. 

A bit about Paradigm Winery:

(par' - a - dime) noun. An example that serves as a pattern or model. A pattern for perfection...

Paradigm Winery, located in the Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, hand-crafts small quantities of estate-bottled red wine. This is my sweet spot for Napa Cabernet Sauvignons.  Oakville is located in the middle of the Napa Valley and contains some of the most sought after wines in all of the valley with names like Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Harlan Estate, Bond, Groth, Ghost Block, Vine Cliff and Plumpjack just to name a few- this is some of the most expensive dirt in all of the wine world.

I am constantly finding myself enamoured with wines from the Oakville appellation and one of the best wines at any price made in this appellation comes from a small family owned winery called Paradigm.

Paradigm Winery is owned and managed by Ren and Marilyn Harris, two winegrowers with extraordinarily deep roots in Napa Valley. Marilyn's grandparents immigrated from Italy to Napa Valley in 1890, while Ren's family came to California in 1769. Marilyn and Ren purchased Paradigm Vineyards in 1976, and began producing wine with the 1991 vintage. Since that first vintage, the wines have been made by renowned winemaker, Heidi Peterson Barrett. Heidi's father, Dick Peterson, was instrumental in laying out and designing the winery.

When the property was purchased by Ren & Marilyn Harris in 1976, it was planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc and White Reisling, all commonly grown in Napa Valley at the time. But the Harrises quickly confirmed that the vineyard's soil and microclimate were perfectly tuned for growing the red Bordeaux varietals that inspired their passion for wine.

The vineyard is now planted to 7 blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon totaling 37 acres, 3 blocks of Merlot totaling 12 acres, 4 acres of Cabernet Franc, 1 acre of Zinfandel and 1 acre of Petite Verdot.

The vineyard is managed by Ren Harris. He is assisted by Fernando Diaz who has worked for the Harris family for many years. Pedro Martinez assists Fernando as foreman and also helps Anne in the winery.

Paradigm's annual production is 6000 cases. The rest of the fruit is sold to friends and neighbors in the valley. The Paradigm style has been very well established. The wines are consistent and ageworthy. Approachable in their youth, Paradigm wines are full of red and black fruit. They are known for their balance and for their ability to compliment a meal. All of the wines are aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. Each of the wines also sees considerable additional bottle aging - 20 months for the Cabernet Sauvignon and 10-14 months for our other reds.

One of the things that Paradigm has in common with the “cult classic” Screaming Eagle?  The most expensive of all the wines not only from Oakville but from all of California and Paradigm Winery have shared the same winemaker for a number of years.  Heidi Peterson Barret has become one of the most sought after consultants in California and has a limited number of clients all producing top level wines.  Paradiigm is probably the least expensive of all the wines that Heidi has her name on.  And unlike Screaming Eagle who has been through several winemakers to date, Heidi is still working with Paradigm winery making it one of the most consistent wines in Napa with her name on it.