2016 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Napa Valley 1.5L

Thirtieth Anniversary Special Edition

1986 throwback label sealed with hand-dipped wax

Winemaker Notes: Proprietary Red is a masterful blend of five Bordeaux varietals, each harvested and vinified separately in more than 50 individual lots. Grape clusters were gravity-fed onto a vibrating table where two screens sifted out materials other than grapes, and we removed by hand any fruit that did not pass visual inspection. After gentle de-stemming, individual berries were hand-sorted to ensure that only the best grapes were delivered to the fermentation vessels. The fruit underwent five days of cold maceration and two to six weeks of primary fermentation before gentle basket press. We aged the wine in 85% new French oak barrels for 20 months.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec

• Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard • Rancho Chimiles • Stagecoach

TASTING NOTES Our 2016 Proprietary Red opens with clear, vibrant aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and black cherry, with intriguing nuances of cardamom, vanilla, toast and star anise that balance the intense dark fruit. A complex palate of deep blackberry and currant, with undertones of leather, is supported by firm, silky tannins. This wine honors its high elevation mountain vineyards with a rich, succulent body; a hint of dark chocolate mousse distinguishes the lengthy finish.

VINTAGE NOTES The 2016 budbreak was right on time, after several years of early onset; bloom occurred mid-May to early June. Summer brought consistent, moderate weather for optimal development of flavors across all varieties. Our precision timing in the vineyard became crucial during harvest, when we experienced a heat spike in mid-September. Through diligence in the vineyard and follow-through in the cellar, the finished wine shows great strength and aging potential.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Vinous - "The 2016 Proprietary Red is fabulous, just as it was from bottle. Silky, supple and also quite structured on the palate, the 2016 is a stunningly beautiful, vivid wine. Dark cherry/plum jam, bittersweet chocolate, rose petal, lavender, spice and menthol build into the huge, unctuous finish. There is so much to like."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Wine gives up bold notes of fresh blackcurrants, black cherries and wild blueberries with hints of cigar box, tilled soil, dried bay leaves and smoked meats plus a hint of lavender. Medium-bodied and fantastically intense in the mouth, it has a wonderful core of muscular fruit and a firm, ripe, fine-grained frame to match, finishing very long. 96+"


Jeb Dunnuck - "A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Proprietary Red is a modern-day classic that has tons of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and earth-driven aromas and flavors. It's deep, pure, layered, and elegant on the palate, with a great finish. Feel free to drink this beauty any time over the coming 20-25 years."


Wine Spectator - "This offers ripe and showy boysenberry, plum and cassis flavors that roll through atop the polished structure, ending with flashes of warm red licorice, roasted apple wood and sweet tobacco. Not shy, but plenty alluring for the fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2030."

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Shop By Region: Napa Valley, California

Shop By Varietal: Cabernet Blend