Pahlmeyer
Merlot 2021
Napa Valley, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
The Pahlmeyer Merlot is rich, elegant and beautifully structured. Blackberry and cassis leap from the glass with hints of black olive and dark earth. The palate is full and refined, layered with blackberry, boysenberry and black plum framed by polished tannins and a weighty yet balanced texture. Lingonberry jam carries through the long finish, with lingering notes of cedar, fresh leather and sage.
Varietal: 100% Merlot
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Vineyards: Waters Ranch, Stagecoach
Alcohol: 15.1% alcohol / volume
Winemaker: Katie Vogt
WINEMAKING NOTES:
High-elevation Merlot blocks were hand-harvested at their most expressive moment. At the winery, the clusters were meticulously hand sorted and destemmed — with only the most perfect berries delivered to the tank. Fruit was gently and slowly extracted, spending up to 18 days on skins. Free-run juice was then collected overnight and aged separately from press cuts. The wine was aged in 89% new French oak barrels for 18 months. After careful blending of select lots, the wine was bottled in June 2023 for additional bottle age before release.
WINEMAKER NOTES:
“Our debut Pahlmeyer red from the stellar 2021 vintage is a thrill to experience, a wine that matches intensity with elegance, beautifully articulated and built to age. Aromas of blackberry and cassis leap from the glass with an underscore of black olive and dark earth. The palate is muscular yet refined, a lithe dance of richness and nuance. A focused core of fresh dark fruit—blackberry, boysenberry, and black plum—is enveloped in polished tannins that lend a weighty grip without overpowering. A lifting note of lingonberry jam runs long through the finish, interplaying with hints of cedar, fresh leather, and sage that echo long on the finish.” — Katie Vogt, Winemaker
Pahlmeyer
Proprietary Red Blend 2022
Napa Valley, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
The Proprietary Red is a rich, energetic expression of Napa Valley mountain terroir. Aromas of green and black peppercorn, tobacco leaf and forest floor lead to layers of cherry, blackberry and plum. Black licorice, chai spice and cocoa emerge on the palate, balanced by bright acidity, velvety tannins and a long, generous finish.
Varietal: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
Vineyards: 45% Upper Range, 30% Waters Ranch, 13% Round Pond, 6% Stage Coach, 6% Vangone
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol: 15.1% alcohol / volume
Aging: 18 months in 90% new Taransaud barrels
Winemaker: Katie Vogt (see video below)
WINEMAKER NOTES:
“The 2022 Proprietary Red is an expansive and energetic expression of Napa Valley mountain terroir — rich with lifted aromatics and finely structured tannins. The wine opens with savory notes of green and black peppercorn, tobacco leaf, and forest floor, layered over a core of macerated cherry, blackberry, and plum. As the wine evolves in the glass, a dynamic streak of black licorice, chai spice, and cocoa emerges across the mid-palate, balanced by mouthwatering acidity and a long, generous finish. The tannins are already beautifully integrated, lending a velvet texture through the mid-palate. This wine is a compelling reflection of site, vintage, and thoughtful farming — beautiful upon release with the structure to evolve over the next 10–12 years.” – Katie Vogt, Winemaker.
WINEMAKING NOTES:
Over 22 days, individual blocks from the mountain vineyards were hand-harvested at night — selected only once the fruit reached optimal ripeness. The fruit underwent both hand and optical sorting before being gravity-fed to tank. Fermentations were carried out separately for each lot, with gentle extraction tailored to preserve aromatics and structure. Juice was gently extracted with a basket press before its final rack to barrel for cellaring. Dozens of individual lots were aged for 18 months in 90% heavily toasted new Taransaud French oak barrels. Cabernet Sauvignon is the heart of this wine; the finest Cabernet of the vintage was assembled from the many distinctive lots, and the blend was completed with the addition of other Bordeaux varieties. The final blend was bottled unfined and unfiltered in May 2024, enjoying additional bottle age before release.
VINTAGE NOTES:
The 2022 vintage was another low-yielding year, producing wines of exceptional concentration and opulence. The season began with late winter rains followed by a moderate spring and early summer, allowing for steady fruit development, with even ripening across vineyard blocks. Late summer heat spikes demanded extreme precision in vineyard management. Thanks to our mountain vineyard sites and responsive canopy strategies — including the use of misting technology — fruit integrity was preserved at critical moments. Waters Ranch with its deeper soils and Upper Range, in particular, delivered exceptional quality, balancing ripeness with structure and freshness.
ABOUT PAHLMEYER WINERY:
Through more than 35 years of winemaking excellence, Pahlmeyer has established itself as a paragon of Napa Valley winemaking, uniting tradition with innovation in every bottle. Rooted in audacious dreams and nurtured by meticulous craftsmanship, Jayson Pahlmeyer’s legacy continues to evolve, striving to reach new heights with each vintage. Learn more about Jayson’s story here>
Photos and information © Pahlmeyer – All Rights Reserved.
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