"The 2008 Proprietary Red has presence, complexity and richness. Juicy layers of blueberry, huckleberry and blackberry fold upon layers of pure cocoa and just-shaved pencil lead. The thick, smooth, firm tannin structure leaves a lasting impression and will allow this wine to cellar beautifully for years to come." – Erin Green, Winemaker September 2011
Composition
82% Cabernet Sauvignon
8% Merlot
6% Cabernet Franc
3% Petit Verdot
1% Malbec
Vineyards
- Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard,
- Rancho Chimiles,
- Stagecoach
Proprietary Red: An Iconic Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
Jayson Pahlmeyer's "California Mouton" - a rich, powerful Napa Valley Bordeaux blend called Proprietary RedRead More
Critics
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.
93 Points
James Laube, Wine Spectator, November 2011
Offers a mix of tight, structured cedar, graphite, pure black cherry, currant and wild berry flavors, with touches of anise and crushed rock, ending with firm, ripe tannins and good length.
93 Points
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May/June 2011
Good deep ruby-red. Complex nose melds briary black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Concentrated, lush and intense, with very good purity to the nicely delineated dark fruit, spice and floral flavors. A hint of wild herbs adds complexity. The serious, broad tannins are sweeter than those of the merlot and arrive late.
Winemaking
- Winemaker:
- Erin Green
- Alcohol:
- 15.2%
- Harvested:
- October 24 to October 28, 2008
- Bottled:
- April 20, 2010
- Released:
- September 1, 2010
The grape clusters were hand-sorted, and once de-stemmed, the berries were sorted again by hand on the way to tank. After four to five days of pre-fermentation cold maceration in small open-top fermentors, the fruit began 100% native yeast fermentation. Two to three weeks later, the fruit was gently pressed and moved to barrel where it finished primary and secondary fermentations. The wine continued to age in 85% new French oak – a combination of Taransaud and St. Martin barrels – for eighteen months. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
