United States · California

Paloma

Paloma Vineyard is a small Spring Mountain District estate in the western Napa Valley, founded in 1983 by Jim and Shelley Brown on a 12-acre parcel at approximately 2,000 feet elevation on the slopes above St. Helena. The estate is best known for its Merlot — one of Napa Valley's most critically acclaimed varietal Merlots — which accounts for 135 of 157 auction lots at an average of $81 per bottle with the 2001 vintage most traded. The Cabernet Sauvignon averages $204 across 15 lots, suggesting a more limited but highly regarded production. Prices reach $610. The Palomita Hamilton Syrah represents a small-production varietal program. Spring Mountain's volcanic, thin soils at high elevation produce Merlot of unusual concentration and structure — more Pomerol-like in texture than the soft, plush Napa Valley floor Merlot. Robert Parker awarded multiple Paloma Merlot vintages 92–96 points in Wine Advocate through the early 2000s, building the estate's collector profile. With just 12 acres and roughly 500–800 cases of Merlot annually, Paloma's supply is genuinely constrained, and mailing list access has historically been necessary to acquire wines at release.