1997 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red California Red

1997 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

98 RP

Featured Review

The finest proprietary red produced by Pahlmeyer to date is their 1997 (a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and the rest Petit-Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec). Production is 3,300 cases, and the wine tips the scales at 14.7% alcohol. 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. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 98 RP

Ultraripe and rich, with jammy wild berry, blackcherry, currant and spicy nuances that are deepand concentrated, finishing with a long, detailedaftertaste. Wonderful sense of harmony andfinesse. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot,Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2002 through 2012. 1,900 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 96 WS

Very saturated black ruby to the rim. Dark aromas of cassis, black raspberry, licorice, maple syrup, shoe polish and flowers. Superripe and compellingly layered and deep; as thick and sweet as the merlot but more tactile, with a stronger impression of acidity and structure and superb flavor definition. Thoroughly ripe, noble tannins reach the entire palate. Pahlmeyer still shows a slight preference for his cabernet sauvignon-based blend. "The merlot, after all, used to be the leftover juice, the stuff that didn't go into the red blend," he explained.

Vinous Media | 94 VM

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Producer	Pahlmeyer : When the only dream one has assaults every waking minute and is such a force that it becomes a hypnotic captivation, the passion and desire to fulfill that dream must be undaunted. When that dream is ripped from outstretched arms, the individual can fight or take flight. Drive and determination is what allowed Jayson Pahlmeyer’s dream to become reality. Pahlmeyer’s insatiable thirst for adventure and his yearning to create a “California Mouton,” in the northern part of the Golden State, his native soil, which he believed to hold tremendous winegrowing potential, led him on an arduous journey. He partnered with the owner of a 55-acre site in Napa Valley, who shared the same dream of producing a California First Growth. The key was planting the finest French clones of Bordeaux varietals, which created a roadblock since importing clones is an international offense. Pahlmeyer would then spend a considerable amount of time researching the finest French vineyards in order to locate an exact match needed to plant the clones in their California soil. Soil samples were tested by viticultural professors at the University of Bordeaux, who analyzed exposure, rainfall, and temperature data. The professional recommendation was for them to plant corn on their Napa property. Undaunted, Pahlmeyer and his partner’s persistence finally paid off three years later when the professors located the exact Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec vines with the greatest ability of being successful. The vines were of great intensity, depth of flavor and character. With the clones acquired and smuggled into the US through the Canadian border, his dream was close to coming to fruition. The clones were planted in 1981, but the French cuttings were slow to adjust to the soil. Randy Dunn (widely recognized for his “no nonsense” approach to winemaking), caught wind of the operation and visited the site and warned them, “Don’t screw it up.” They didn’t and in 1986 Dunn approached them about buying their entire crop. An agreement was made and Dunn would make Jayson’s “Pahlmeyer” Napa Velley Bordeaux blend. That 1986 vintage achieved a 94-point score by Robert Parker and a legend was born. Success comes with the willingness to accept advice and sometimes criticism. Over the years Pahlmeyer would be guided by some of the Napa Valley greats from Dunn to Bob Levy, and on to Helen Turley. Turley urged Pahlmeyer to push quality to even greater heights by developing estate vineyards and was instrumental in finding his high-elevation Napa Valley estate vineyard in 1988. The vineyards, situated on the ridge of Atlas Peak were planted to red Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay that same year. David Abreu was hired to develop the land and Turley was a large contributor to its success. Pahlmeyer states that Helen Turley told him, “If you want to be a first-growth, you have to have your own vineyards.” And so… Pahlmeyer’s dream of creating an iconic Bordeaux blend in the soils of California became reality. His Proprietary Red, Chardonnay and Merlot are highly sought after and are creations of sheer determination and excellence.