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Pym-Rae Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Reviews

100 - The Wine Independent -

Deep purple-black colored, it requires a fair bit of swirling before it charges out of the gate with bold notes of crème de cassis, black cherry compote, and blueberry pie, followed by suggestions of clove oil, lilacs, licorice, and tar, plus a spicy waft of cumin seed. The full-bodied palate delivers beguiling energy from the brightness of fruit, bursting with fragrant floral notes, minerally sparks, and exotic spices. It has a taut backbone of invigorating acidity, matched by firm, ripe, grainy tannins, supporting the epic long, multi-layered finish. This 2019 is the vinous definition of opulence. This is the first vintage certified organic and biodynamic. Only about 20,000 bottles were made and are due to be released in autumn 2023.

98 - Jeb Dunnuck -

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.

97 - James Suckling -

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.

96+ - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -

The 2019 Pym-Rae is made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, all aged in a combination of 45% new French oak barriques and small (260-gallon) concrete tanks. Impressively ripe and concentrated, it offers scents of cassis, violet and hints of dark chocolate on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-smooth, framed by dusty tannins on the long, focused finish. Yes, it's somewhat Bordeaux-like in shape, but it's fully ripe, with black cherries emerging on the finish, along with the slightest touch of alcoholic warmth.

96 - Wine Enthusiast -

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.

95 - Wine Spectator -

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.

Technical Details

Blend 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
Winemaker Michel Rolland
Country US
Region California
Sub Region North Coast
Appellation Napa Valley
Vineyard Tesseron Estate
Farming Method Dry-Farmed & Demeter Certified Biodynamic
Oak 55% new French barrels and 45% concrete eggs
Aging / Cooperage 18 months
Alcohol 15%
Production 1,666 cases

Pym-Rae Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Name: Pym-Rae Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019
Brand: First Bottle
SKU: 1012351
Price: 285.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Proprietary Blends | California

TWI100, JD98, JS97, WA96+, WE96, WS95

SPECIAL: Ground shipping included on 2+ bottles!

Dry-Farmed & Demeter Certified Biodynamic

$430.00

$285.00

750ML

33% OFF RETAIL!

What do Robin Williams’ Napa vineyard, the owner of Chateau Pontet-Canet Alfred Tesseron, and superstar wine consultant Michel Rolland have in common? This drop-dead gorgeous, 100 POINT 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder! This is a collector's item if we’ve ever seen one, but our allocations are extremely limited. With free shipping on just 2 bottles, you’d better sprint to the cart!

Alfred Tesseron is the man who turned Chateau Pontet-Canet in Pauillac into a 100-point powerhouse, and since 2016, he’s been doing the same thing in Napa. He purchased Robin Williams’ Villa Sorriso property on Mount Veeder that year – a 650-plus acre property with only 18 planted to vine, with part of the property backing up to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Pym-Rae was the name Robin originally gave the vineyard, in honor of his first two children’s middle names, and the Tesseron family has kept the name to honor his legacy.

2019 is the first vintage that the vineyard was certified organic and biodynamic, utilizing dry farming techniques and meticulous trellising practices modeled after Pontet-Canet’s. With a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon,15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot, the wine is fully estate grown with endless mountain power and gravelly, dark-fruited appeal. Coaxed into liquid cashmere by one of Napa’s most feverishly in-demand wine consultants, Michel Rolland, the wine aged in a combination of French oak barrels and concrete eggs for 18 months, giving it a simultaneous spiced softness and juicy freshness that will only continue to melt into something incredible with more time in the bottle.

Its deep inky hue poses as foreshadowing for the dark, brooding personality to come – piles of brambly blackberries and black cherry reduction, with seductive plum pie, red currant, dried lavender, and creamy hazelnut accents. Then, pine forest notes mix with melty dark chocolate, black licorice, truffle, and a touch of exotic Indian spices, wrapped in dusty soft tannins and a round, lengthy finish. You just have to taste this to understand the power and layered complexity here... just, wow. We don’t have much, and as usual – first-come, first-served! Get your shipping fees waived with just 2 bottles.

PAIRING IDEAS: This is a wine that requires a pairing equally as rich and robust as its own profile. I’m opting for Ina Garten’s “company” pot roast – a meal so hearty, warming, and generous, it’s fit for a crowd!

About The Producer

In January 2016, Alfred Tesseron’s family (owner of Pontet Canet in Pauillac) 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.” Due to this touching story and in respect to the previous owners, the Tesserons have chosen to continue this name for the domaine’s wine. The Tesseron family has taken everything they have learned over the decades, making wine at Paullac's Pontet Canet, and has applied it at this 30-year-old vineyard atop Mt. Veeder.

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