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pahlmeyer, proprietary red, napa valley 2016
JAMES SUCKLING
96
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE
96

2016 pahlmeyer, proprietary red, napa valley

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Why We're Buying

"A mouthful of pure sulk." "Deep, pure, layered, and elegant." "Complete and complex." These are just some of the accolades that critics have lobbed at Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red. The Bordeaux-style red blend ranks as one of the titans of Napa Valley with its prized fruit and timeless complexion. In 2020, this red wine appreciated 11.

Critics Scores

JAMES SUCKLING
96

James Suckling

A concentrated and essence-like nose of elderberries, blackcurrant compote, peppermint and forest floor, but also hot stones, pressed violets and fresh eucalyptus. So complete and complex on the palate, which is full-bodied and layered with super velvety tannins, wrapping the seamless fruit together. A mouthful of pure silk. Drink in 2025.

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE
96

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.

JEB DUNNUCK
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.

VINOUS
97

Vinous

The 2016 Proprietary Red is another superb wine from Pahlmeyer. Bright floral notes and hillside tannins confer energy and tension to play off the intense red fruit. Powerful and voluptuous in the glass, the 2016 is shaping up to be a beauty.

WINE SPECTATOR
94

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.