Pahlmeyer Red Wine 2021
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 96] [TWI 95-97+] [WA 96+] [WE 96]

About the Winery:
Pahlmeyer was founded in 1986, by a desire to be great 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:
The Proprietary Red is the winery's flagship wine, a true Napa version of a Bordeaux blend. 

Winemaker Notes:
The 2021 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red captures the essence of this stellar low-yielding vintage: powerful yet refined, intense yet luscious. Aromas of lingonberry and boysenberry interplay with flickerings of green peppercorn, saddle leather, and forest floor, culminating in a beautifully lifted bouquet. The tightly wound palate frames a core of intense plum and cassis layered with licorice spice. Polished tannins give way to a mid-palate rich with macerated blackberry and freshly grated nutmeg. This articulate, broad-shouldered blend is poised to evolve gracefully over the next two decades.  – Katie Vogt

Composition: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Malbec

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Flashy and fragrant aromatics of ripe blackberry fruit, graphite, tobacco, purple florals, herbs, and slivers of dark chocolate. Fabulously rich, dense dark black and blue fruit notes, tobacco leaf, and black olive atop a sea of ultra-fine velvety tannins. It’s a seamless red with no rough edges. Winemaker Katie Vogt blends the Cabernet and Merlot but waits to blend in the Malbec later, while 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc round out the cuvée. It's aged in heavy toast Taransaud and Darnajou barrels for 18 months. Hillside sources include Waters, Upper Range, Stagecoach, and Vangone." - Jonathan Cristaldi (Nov 2023)

95-97+ Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2021 Proprietary Red is composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the glass with exuberant notes of warm cassis, redcurrant preserves, and kirsch, followed by suggestions of lilacs, crushed rocks, wild sage, and Indian spices with a waft of mossy tree bark. The full-bodied palate vibrates with energetic black and red berry flavors, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note." - LPB (Aug 2023)

96+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The components of the 2021 Proprietary Red barely changed relative to the barrel sample I tasted last year, with 61% of the fruit being estate grown (Stagecoach and Waters Ranch), with the remainder coming from Upper Range (35%) and Vangone (4%). Dominant scents of cassis mark the nose, joined by hints of dark chocolate, black cherries and pencil shavings. This full-bodied wine is firm and muscular but with enough baby fat that you could try one now if you had a big steak on hand. The lingering, dusty finish adds savory tones of black olive and dried herbs. 2,605 cases produced." - Joe Czerwinski (July 2024)

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"A sophisticated red blend with command of its style, this wine brings Cabernet Sauvignon together with the attributes of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec to deliver savory flavors of blue and black fruits, graphite and gravel, lifted by a waft of violet and fresh herbs. The tannins are abundant while approachable, balanced by persistent acidity that creates an upright structure and welcoming presentation. Delicious." - ECB (Sep 2024)