2017 Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae Napa Valley

97 RP

Qty:

From the critics:

97 JS

96 JD

Featured Review

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Pym-Rae leaps from the glass with bold notions of black cherries, mulberries, plum preserves and dark chocolate with an opulent undercurrent of Indian spices, potpourri, sandalwood and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with rich, seductive black fruit preserves and an explosion of exotic spice sparks, framed by firm yet beautifully plush tannins and fantastic tension, finishing very long and achingly fragrant. Possessing loads more weight and mid-palate density than a lot of 2017s, this second showing is an absolute knock-out. Due to strict selection, only around 1500 cases were made this year. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 97 RP

Rather rich, flamboyant and decadent with bright raspberries, mushrooms and bark. Full-bodied, yet very tight and refined, with firmness and length. Racy and fine for a 2017. No cabernet franc in the blend, just cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Drink after 2023.

James Suckling | 97 JS

The 2017 Pym-Rae comes from a more challenging vintage that featured a dramatic heat spike on Labor Day weekend and fires during harvest. Nevertheless, the fruit was harvested all pre-fire, and it’s a beautiful wine revealing ample black fruits, scorched earth, tobacco, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the vintage’s more focused, elegant style and has beautiful concentration as well as a great finish. While I suspect it has fewer tannins than the 2016, they’re more present and focused, which is very much in the style of the vintage. This elegant, concentrated, classic Bordeaux-like Mountain Cabernet will evolve nicely for another 25+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JD

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.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Appellation	Mount Veeder

Producer	Pym-Rae Tesseron Estate : When the owners of the renowned, Grand Cru Classe Chateau Pontet-Canet in Bordeaux, were searching for new vineyard space (in “New World” winemaking territory), it needed to be of exceptional quality, a place of great reputation and with the potential necessary for implementing the Pontet-Canet viticultural philosophy. The Tesseron family looked no further than Napa, the obvious choice, but not just anywhere in the Valley. The desirable location included a climate’s generous nature to be moderated by locally cool conditions, meaning a high-altitude vineyard. It was also imperative for it to possess sedimentary soil, caused by eons of weathering rock and deposited organic sea material. The Mount Veeder sub-region of Napa provided all of this. When they discovered the estate that is now named Pym-Rae Tesseron, Alfred Tesseron insisted that the land chose them, not the other way around. In January 2016, the Tesseron family became the owners of Villa Sorriso (Villa of Smiles), the former property of the actor, Robin Williams. The actor christened the vineyard with the middle names of his children “Pym” and “Rae”. In an incredible show of respect to both, the late actor and this touching story, the Tesserons chose to honor Williams by continuing this name for the domaine’s wine. Another interesting and unique feature memorialized is a mural of the Daily Planet (News agency in Superman motion-films) globe that still graces the ceiling in the home’s entryway, which served as a reminder of William’s best friend, Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in four of the franchise’s films: the logo design for the label is a replica of that mural. There is more to winemaking than just creating wine from grape juice. There is an undeniable level of respect; not just for the process, tradition nor grapes, but for the world and all things in it. For the Tesseron family, their admiration goes beyond the land, air and water, as they cherish a unique connection between man and nature. At Pym-Rae Tesseron, there is a natural “handmade” approach with the focus on the vineyard and winegrower, rather than cellar and winemaker. The Tesseron’s claim they “…simply hold the brush, the terroir is the artist.” The philosophy at the Tesseron Estate arises from a natural cycle, its respect for everything is equally applicable to human society (which they so proved by honoring the late actor in multiple ways). ”It is a ‘humanist’ biodynamic, intimate and humble approach, for a limited production wine destined to be enjoyed by a knowledgeable few. It is a reasoned and rigorous approach, validated by certification, synonymous with harmony and meticulous attention to detail.” This non-interventionist approach allows the potential of the terrific terroir and gracefully highlight its unique character. The Pym-Rae property encompasses a beautiful estate house and a sprawling 600 acres, 18.5 of which are cultivated to the Bordeaux grape varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. At 1800 feet above sea level, the vines have breathtaking views of the mountainous terrain, but more importantly, enjoy a cooler climate and mountain breezes; essential for bearing ripe and suitable grapes. The terroir is comprised of sedimentary limestone soil (as aforementioned) which combined with the perfect climate, creates a harmonious environment for the grapes to properly ripen and ultimately the wines to develop depth, balance, freshness and the elegance that the Tesseron family so desires in their wines at both Pym-Rae and Pontet-Canet. In keeping with complete respect to nature, three unique practices are implemented in the Pym-Rae Vineyard: dry farming, no vine trimming and the utilization of cows. Not only does dry farming help the environment (especially in times of extreme drought) with its lack of irrigation, but also forces the vine roots to act more instinctively and work vigorously to seek out nutrients within the soil. By not trimming, the Tesserons allow the natural growth of the vines as they reach out in pursuit of the sun’s rays. The use of cows in the Pym-Rae vineyard is both interesting and ingenious. While grazing, they organically fertilize the soil, but also due to their size and weight, their hooves leave deep pockets in the soil which collect much needed rain water. The wine, simply named Pym-Rae is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc (for the 2018 vintage – percentages vary depending on the vintage). The result is wine of exotic character, with “sexiness and opulence” as professional wine critic, Jeb Dunnuck states, “…extremely aromatic with blackberries, black pepper and spice” per James Suckling and as Robert Parker Wine Advocate exclaims, a “...stunningly majestic, flawlessly balanced Mountain Cabernet…” This is what happens when a legendary Bordeaux producer lays roots in the tremendous Mount Veeder, Napa Valley soils California. Two worlds collide in the creation of this gripping and sensual, yet elegant terroir driven, California Bordeaux Blend.