Pahlmeyer Merlot 2021
(Napa Valley, California) - [TWI 93-95] [WA 95] [WE 95]

About the Winery:
Pahlmeyer was founded in 1986, by its eponymous creator Jayson Pahlmeyer. With a dream to create a California Mouton, Jayson and his partners spared no resource to make this dream a reality. Whether it was finding the perfect piece of land high atop Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak or covertly smuggling in Bordeaux cuttings, all pieces of Pahlmeyer’s history have led to its place as one of the top brand names from Napa Valley. From the very beginning, Pahlmeyer has been dedicated to crafting fine wines from the best fruit sources possible. In California, this means high elevation mountain sites, where the grapes are afforded more sunlight, cooler temperatures, and less fertile soils, which together create ideal conditions. Pahlmeyer sources the majority of their fruit from four key locations: Pahlmeyer Estate (Atlas Peak), Stagecoach (Atlas Peak / Pritchard Hill), Rancho Chimiles, and Antica.

About this Wine:
In its debut Pahlmeyer single varietal Merlot from the stellar 2021 vintage, this is a thrill to experience: "a wine that matches intensity with elegance, beautifully articulated and built to age. Aromas of blackberry and cassis leap from the glass with an underscore of black olive and dark earth. The palate is muscular yet refined, a lithe dance of richness and nuance. A focused core of fresh dark fruit—blackberry, boysenberry, and black plum—is enveloped in polished tannins that lend a weighty grip without overpowering. A lifting note of lingonberry jam runs long through the finish, interplaying with hints of cedar, fresh leather, and sage that echo long on the finish." – Winemaker Katie Vogt

Ratings & Reviews

93-95 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The single-varietal 2021 Merlot comes 62% from Waters Ranch and 38% from Stagecoach Vineyard and is due to be bottled very soon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold expressions of juicy blueberries, Morello cherries, and wild blueberries, leading to wafts of rose oil, cardamom, and cumin seed with a waft of fragrant soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a very fine-grained yet firm backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and beautiful tension to support the black fruit and floral layers, finishing long with a spicy lift." - LBP (Aug 2023)

95 Points - Wine Advocate: 
"A blend of fruit from Stagecoach and Waters Ranch (Pahlmeyer's estate vineyard), the 2021 Merlot is a real beauty. Scents of menthol, cedar and a hint of mocha accent the ripe black cherry core, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated and expansive, with a plush, velvety texture that extends through the long, mocha and meat-tinged finish." - Joe Czerwinski (July 2024)

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Delivering power through poise, this Merlot offers flavors of blue and black fruits with pleasing spices. An additional layer of earthiness brings depth. The tannins here melt in the mouth, balanced by juicy acidity that carries into a long finish. Full-bodied, mouthwatering, and delicious." - ECB (Sep 2024)