95 Points - Wine Spectator #9 Wine of the Year
Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 2015
Recognition
The revolution at Pahlmeyer has begun!
Napa Man,
May 5, 2018
Chronicle Tasting Panel's Favorite Wines of 2017
Houston Chronicle,
January 15, 2018
Top 100 Napa and Sonoma Wines of 2017
JamesSuckling.com,
January 4, 2018
95 Points - Wine Spectator #9 Wine of the Year
Wine Spectator,
November 15, 2017
Wine Enthusiast Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers of 2017
Wine Enthusiast,
October, 2017
Reviews
Wine
2021 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2019 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2018 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2017 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2016 Special Edition Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2016 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2015 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2014 Magnum Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2014 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2013 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2012 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2011 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2010 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2009 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2008 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2006 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2005 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2003 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2002 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2001 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
2000 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1999 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1998 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1997 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1996 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1995 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1994 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1993 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1992 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1991 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1990 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1989 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1988 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1987 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
1986 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
95-97 points
Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, May 4, 2023
The 2021 Proprietary Red blends estate fruit from Stagecoach (37%) and the Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard (24%) with purchased elements from Upper Range (34%) and Vangone (5%). The varietal composition is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Aging 18 months in 94% new French oak, it will be bottled unfined and unfiltered. Right now, it offers compelling fruit-driven aromas of ripe cherries, cassis, and blueberries—the oak is well concealed. Full-bodied and rich, this is dense and velvety on the palate, with a long, mouthwatering finish, despite an ample amount of dusty tannins.
98 points
James Suckling, JameSuckling.com, April 7, 2022
Blackberries, blackcurrants and hints of mint. Full-bodied with very fine, velvety tannins. Turns firm and structured with a fine chewiness and a caressing mouth-feel. Lively, too. 77% cabernet sauvignon and 15% merlot, the rest petit verdot and cabernet franc. Very attractive now, but will be better in four to five years. Try after 2026.
98 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, June 15, 2021
Blackberries and wild berries on the nose with hints of incense and ink, following through to a full body with super integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. It’s structured, yet so polished and integrated, the tannins spreading beautifully across the palate. Caressing, like silk. This has a higher percentage of Stagecoach Vineyard. Drinkable now, but better in 2024 and onwards.
94+ points
0Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, October 31, 2019
The 2017 Pahlmeyer, bottled at the beginning of September, contains no Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc this year, as that fruit was smoke tainted. Only Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot made the cut this year. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers provocative blueberry preserves, baked plums and black forest cake scents followed by crème de cassis, dark chocolate, cedar chest and pencil lead with a waft of camphor. Medium to full bodied, the palate delivers impressive intensity with earthy layers offering lots of interest to the intense black fruit preserves, framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long with loads of energy.
97 points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 7, 2019
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.
97 points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 1, 2018
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.
95-97 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, December 1, 2016
The 2015 Proprietary Red Wine... has super-concentration, a massive mouthfeel, heady, intense flavors of black and blue fruits, chocolate, wood spice and barbecue notes. It is a killer effort, and as so many of the 2015s, another magnificent vintage for Northern California. Drink 2018-2038.
97 points
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 1, 2017
Fantastic aromatics with blackberries, blackcurrants and iodine. Licorice, too. Medium to full body, fine and velvety tannins and a very polished and gorgeous finish. Caressing and dialed in. Why wait? An intellectual wine here. Lovely now
97 points
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2017
Fantastic aromatics with blackberries, blackcurrants and iodine. Licorice, too. Medium to fulll body, fine and velvety tannins and a very polished and gorgeous finish. Caressing and dialed in. Why wait? An intellectual wine here. Lovely now.
96 points
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, December 2016
An absolute stunner is the 2013 Proprietary Red Wine. This is all mountain fruit. Beautiful floral, smoky, blackcurrant notes mixed with acacia flowers and forest floor jump from the glass of this dense, full-bodied, concentrated and age-worthy wine. Like most 2013s, this is a 30-year wine with remarkable concentration, color and fruit extract. Forget it for another 3-4 years, and drink it over the following 30+ years.
94+ points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2014
Another rich, explosive wine, the 2012 Proprietary Red is racy and expressive to the core. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. The 2012 is naturally very, very young, but it boasts tremendous richness, volume and pure texture. This is a terrific example of the year. If past vintages are an indication, it should also age impeccably.
95 points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2014
A beguiling, layered wine, the 2011 Proprietary Red impresses for its nuance, vibrancy and delineation. Grilled herbs, graph- ite, smoke, new leather and incense meld together in a vibrant wine endowed with gorgeous depth and intensity. The tannins are just a bit firm, hardly a surprise for a wine made from mountain fruit and the year, but the 2011 stands out for its impeccable balance and pure class.
95+ points
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate #204, December 2012
Mocha, espresso, cloves and blackberry jam are some of many nuances that emerge from the 2010 Red Blend. A deep, rich wine, the 2010 boasts stunning aromatics, beautifully chiseled fruit and fabulous overall balance. I sense a slightly less sweet, overt style than in previous years, yet at the same time, there is plenty of richness in the glass. I suspect the 2010 will still be going strong at age 20. Today, it is flat-out gorgeous.
94 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, August 2012
This Bordeaux-like expression offers a mix of cedar-laced tobacco, dried berry, loamy earth and herbal notes. Young and tightly wound, this unfolds slowly and gracefully, and looks like an ideal choice to lay down.
93 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #192, December 2010
The 2008 Proprietary Red Wine blend...has a more opaque/purple color. With more graphite, blueberry and lilac notes, sweet tannin, medium to full body, and an elegant, gracious feel, it is more restrained than previous examples but has no shortage of richness and concentration. It looks to be a beauty in a Bordeaux style, with sweet tannins but loads of fruit – unmistakably California but French in structure.
96+ points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #186, December 2009
Sensational... There is no doubting its extraordinary bouquet of subtle smoked meats, oak, mountain wild flowers, blueberries, blackberries, coffee, and cassis. Super-rich and full-bodied with noticeable, but stunningly sweet tannins, it possesses a rare minerality and definition, characteristics that seem to be found across the board in Napa’s 2007s. This dense, powerful red needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and should have 25 years of life ahead of it.
95 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #180, December 2008
Sweet, smoky, meaty aromas interwoven with melted asphalt, camphor, blackberry, cassis, and charcoal scents emerge from the complex aromatics. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied, displaying sweet tannin, a concentrated mouthfeel, and a long, heady finish with substantial fruit, glycerin, and extract. It should drink beautifully for 20+ years.
96 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #174, December 2007
This wine has fleshed out beautifully. The final blend has a deep purple color, a beautifully sweet nose of blackberries and cassis intermixed with some meatiness, smoke, and a touch of pain grille as well as notes of espresso and licorice. Full-bodied, rich, with decent acidity, excellent delineation, and moderately high tannin, this is a beauty that should evolve for 25-30+ years. It is no wimpish wine at 15.2% natural alcohol, but that is buried beneath a cascade of gorgeous fruit and glycerin. This wine should be cruising along brilliantly in 2030+.
98 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #168, April 2014
… a wonderful monster in the making. It boasts a dense purple color as well as notes of beef blood, creme de cassis, licorice, incense and spring flowers. It looks more like a 2-year-old wine than one that has seen its tenth birthday...a spectacular Proprietary Red that is even greater than I remember it in its youth.
94 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #162, December 2005
The 2003 Proprietary Red is a killer. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a big, smoky, fragrant nose of creme de cassis, smoked meats, plum, and licorice, it boasts great intensity, rich, full-bodied, powerful flavors, decent acidity, moderate tannin, and tremendous persistence. It has put on weight since I tasted it last year out of barrel, and should drink well for 15 or more years.
99 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #201, June 2012
The nearly perfect 2002 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest dollops of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This exotic, full-throttle, nearly over-the-top red wine’s intensity, richness and smoky coffee notes intermixed with notions of chocolate, graphite, and jammy blackberry and black currant fruit ooze from the glass. This rich, concentrated beauty tastes more like a top-notch, young Right Bank Bordeaux from a vintage such as 2009 than a wine dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. With stunning purity and awesome potential, it can be drunk now or cellared for another two decades.
Pahlmeyer has long been one of my favorite wineries for both their red wines and Chardonnays. Both the 2002 red cuvees, made by Erin Green for proprietor Jayson Pahlmeyer, are performing fabulously. These wines typically have tremendously long lives, as evidenced by some older vintages in my cellar that are continuing to age beautifully.
93 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #195, June 2011
It exhibits a dense, thick, black/purple color as well as emerging aromas of cedar, black currants, ink, graphite, charcoal and forest floor. This full-bodied, packed and stacked Cabernet offers a sexy, open-knit opulence on the attack followed by noticeable tannins. However, the latter component is clearly balanced by the wine’s stunning concentration, texture and overall depth. Drink it over the following 25-30+ years.
92 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, October 2003
Wonderful richness, complexity and concentration, with layers of mouth-coating dark fruits centered around currant, plum, blackberry and even a trace of prune. Finishes with a long gush of ripe fruit and ripe tannins that ease into the elegant aftertaste.
94 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, November 2002
Ultra-ripe, pushing it to the max. Rich mocha-laced black cherry and blackberry fruit. Hints of milk chocolate, herb and currant. Finishes with smooth, plush tannins and excellent length and complexity.
92 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, August 2001
Deftly balanced, rich and elegant, with creamy currant, mocha, herb, blackberry and anise flavors, keeping a tight, supple focus and lingering on the finish.
98 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #132, December 2000
"The finest Proprietary Red produced by Pahlmeyer to date is their 1997... A super-rich, blockbuster effort, it exhibits an opaque purple color in addition to a fabulous bouquet of black fruits, espresso, cocoa, mocha, and flowers. A prodigious red, with low acidity, spectacular concentration, and fabulous purity as well as overall symmetry, it can be drunk now, but promises to last for 20-25 years."
95 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #126, January 2000
The 1996 Proprietary Red is not a very weighty (14.3% alcohol) offering. It has become more delineated with a year of bottle age, offering up classic creme de cassis, smoked meat, coffee, prune, and toasty new oak scents. Concentrated, with fabulously high extract, sweet tannin, and full body, this wine has an elegant feel on the palate, but is still a blockbuster. Anticipated maturity now-2025.
96 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #114, December 1997
The 1995 Proprietary Red Wine may be even better than the 96 point score I bestowed it. It is unquestionably among the top dozen 1995s. The wine boasts an explosive blackberry/blueberry/cassis-scented nose that has completely soaked up all the new oak in which it has been aged for the last 22 months. Purple/black in color, it exhibits fabulously extracted, layered black fruit flavors that coat the palate, offering a seamless texture and voluptuous impression.
96 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #108, December 1996
The 1994 Proprietary Red Wine exhibits a purple/black color, as well as sweet, integrated tannin, a gorgeous blackcurrant, toast, tar, and licorice-scented nose, fabulous texture, and a 35-45 second finish. The 1994 may be slightly sweeter in the mid-palate than the 1995, but the differences are negligible. The abundant tannin is mostly concealed by the wine's wealth of fruit, glycerin, and alcohol. This wine should drink well from the late nineties through the first two decades of the next century. Very impressive!
91 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, May 1996
A ripe, rich, full-bodied Bordeaux-style red that shows its plush and complex side already, though still young. The tiers of cherry, currant, anise and spice finish with thick but polished tannins and a rich aftertaste. Impressive for its depth and concentration.
92 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #102, December 1995
The 1992 Proprietary Red Wine, is a wine made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, with the usual suspects as component parts... It possesses an opaque purple color, a superb, sweet, expansive nose of mint, cassis, and toast, a full-bodied, rich, creamy, lavishly intense palate with great purity, gobs of cassis fruit, nicely integrated oak and tannin, and enough acidity to provide uplift.... Bravo to Jayson Pahlmeyer for once again turning out distinctive, complex wines of thrilling quality.
90 points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, October 1993
Ripe and intense with a pretty array of flavors ranging from herb, mint, spice and currant. The texture is rich and smooth and the flavors keep repeating themselves on a long, full finish, where you pick up tobacco and cherry notes.
91 points
Wine Spectator, November 1990
Big, youthful and consequently awkward, but with a beam of tart currant and plum flavors blazing through the tough tannins and hard-edged oak character. Desperately needs cellaring until at least 1998.
91-94 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #55, February 1988
This proprietary wine, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot was made by Randy Dunn, and clearly shows off his exceptional talents by virtue of its huge fruit, formidable structure, mouthcoating richness, and hefty tannins. This immensely impressive wine has outstanding depth and length, and looks like a candidate for 5-15 years of cellaring. Quite impressive.
