Pym-Rae Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2019

“The 2019 Château Pym-Rae is a textbook Mount Veeder Cabernet with its exotic red, blue, and black fruits as well as complex notes of mountain scrub brush, lavender, tobacco, and lead pencil. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine yet substantial tannins, and a great finish. It's one of those "iron fist in a velvet glove" type wines that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and shine over the following two decades.”

“Extremely aromatic with flowers, currants, plums, and cocoa. Full-bodied with compacted fruit and ultra-fine tannins giving it a suppleness and finesse, yet it’s very structured and long. Turns to sandalwood, hazelnut and subtle currants. Round and velvety texture at the end. Slightly deeper and denser. 55% new French barrels and 45% concrete eggs for 18 months. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc and 5% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Needs four or five years. An excellent mountain wine from the family owners of Pontet Canet. Try after 2026.”

“This mountain-grown wine blended from Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot is firmly structured, super-concentrated and heading for a long life. Aromas of dried plums, sunbaked black figs and black cherries are followed by a harmonious array of black cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate and subtle oak spice like tobacco and oak char. Expect this wine from the Tesseron family of Bordeaux to develop beautifully over time. Best from 2028–2040.”

“This is dense and still tightly wound, with hints of dried iris, sweet bay and tobacco leaf peeking out from a core of dark currant preserves and plum reduction. The long finish shows wet earth and cast iron accents that lend an old-school feel as the pure fruit pumps along in unison. A serious, mineral-laden mountain Cabernet. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2027 through 2042.”