The 2020 Peter Michael Winery Cabernet Au Paradis is a notable expression of Napa Valley winemaking, crafted predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine showcases the finesse and complexity expected from the North Coast region of California.

James Suckling from jamessuckling.com awarded this wine a score of 95, highlighting its "refined and polished" nature. He noted the presence of "redcurrant and spice, as well as black-pepper and flint undertones." Suckling emphasized the wine's "medium-bodied" profile with "refined tannins and a fresh, silky finish," suggesting it is drinkable now but will improve after 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck from jebdunnuck.com gave a higher score of 97, praising its "lush and refined" characteristics. Dunnuck described the wine as having "aromas of cassis, espresso, violets, and sweet tobacco," with a "full-bodied" palate that continues with "ripe, velvety texture, fine tannins," and notes of "black cherry liqueur and mocha." He recommended a drinking window from 2025 to 2045.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated it highly with a score of 96. Reviewer Erin Brooks noted the wine's deep ruby-purple color and complex blend of flavors, including "warm black plums, graphite, and grilled peppers." Brooks described the palate as "full-bodied" with "plenty of freshness" supporting its "concentrated, ripe fruit" and "alluring floral tones," making it "approachable right now."

Vinous, while more reserved with a score of 92, acknowledged the wine's "powerful" nature despite its "mid-weight structure." The review mentioned flavors of "ripe dark plum, blackberry, and chocolate," though it noted that the aromatics were not as focused as usual, likely due to the challenging vintage year.

Wine Spectator also rated it 92, describing the wine as "forward" with "a wave of crushed blueberry, açaí, and blackberry fruit flavors." The broad finish included "loam, licorice root, and tobacco," with a recommended drinking window from 2024 through 2034.

The Wine Independent gave it a score of 95, accentuating its "deep garnet-purple" color and "exuberant notes of creme de cassis, redcurrant jelly, and juicy blackberries." The palate was noted for being "concentrated yet bright and expressive," with "fine-grained tannins" and a "long and lifted finish."

Overall, the 2020 Peter Michael Winery Cabernet Au Paradis is a well-regarded wine that shows both complexity and approachability, with various reviewers highlighting its refined structure and rich, layered flavors.