2016 Special Edition Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

Thirtieth Anniversary Special Edition

1986 throwback label sealed with hand-dipped wax

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.

Composition

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

2016 Pahlmeyer Varietal Blend

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

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.

Winemaking

Winemaker:
Bibiana González Rave
Alcohol:
15.2%
Harvested:
September 21 to October 8, 2016
Bottled:
May 30, 2018
Released:
March 18, 2019

Proprietary Red is a masterful blend of five Bordeaux varietals, each harvested and vinified separately in more then 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.

Download Fact Sheet ()

This release has been fully enjoyed and is no longer available. If you're not already on our mailing list, find out more about how to never miss a future release!

Find Out More