Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Merlot 2021
- js98
- we95
- wa92-94
- ws91
Category | Red Wine |
Varietal | |
Brand | Pahlmeyer |
Origin | California, Napa Valley |
Alcohol/vol | 15.1% |
Winery 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.
James Suckling
- js98
Delicious, velvety and mouth-filling, this wine could convert any merlot skeptic to being a fan. Mountain grown in the Stagecoach Vineyard and Waters Vineyard, it is intense and saturated with flavor but wrapped in luscious tannins that tempt you to drink it now. Blueberries, creme de cassis, cherries, cream and mint. 100% merlot. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.
Wine Enthusiast
- we95
Delivering power through poise, this Merlot offers flavors of blue and black fruits with pleasing spices. An additional layer of earthiness brings depth. The tannins here melt in the mouth, balanced by juicy acidity that carries into a long finish. Full-bodied, mouthwatering, and delicious.
Wine Advocate
- wa92-94
Pahlmeyer's 2021 Merlot is 100% Merlot matured 18 months in 89% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. A blend of fruit from the Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard (68%) and Stagecoach (32%), it's ripe and plummy, with further notes of black cherries and mocha. It's full-bodied and structured, nicely firm without being tough or hard, with a long, cool, savory finish.
Wine Spectator
- ws91
A plush and extravagant style that opens with ripe cherry and red currant flavors laced with vanilla and toasty spice accents as this slowly builds firmness toward dry tannins. Drink now through 2030. 2,690 cases made.