2021 Pahlmeyer Merlot Napa Valley

This is an icon wine in Napa and 2021 is a vintage not to be missed for the serious collector. Awarded #1 in James Suckling's TOP 100 wines of the Year!

Founded in the early 1980s by visionary entrepreneur Jason Pahlmeyer, Pahlmeyer Winery has established itself as a leading producer of world-class wines. While initially focused on real estate development, Pahlmeyer's passion for wine led him to partner with John Caldwell and acquire 55 acres of land in the prestigious Coombsville appellation.

Over the decades, Pahlmeyer has cultivated a rich history of collaboration with renowned winemakers. From Randy Dunn (the first winemaker) and Bob Levy (from Harlan Estate) to Helene Turley and Michel Rolland, these influential figures have shaped the winery's distinctive style and elevated its reputation.

Today, Bibiana González Rave is head winemaker and oversees the Jayson and Wayfarer brands too.

2021 is looking to be one of the vintages of the decade. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 95-98 point score, and said: "Two thousand twenty-one is a fabulous vintage in Napa Valley. That’s the good news. The not so good news is that production is down sharply, 30-50% in many cases. The wines have tremendous energy as well as finesse. In tasting, the 2021s show some of the savory intensity of other drought vintages – 2013 and 2014 come to mind – but with more aromatic explosiveness and greater inner sweetness."

Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels.

100% Merlot. 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. 

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. ~98 James Suckling

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. ~95 Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Katie Vogt says the 2021 vintage proved to be an excellent year, with even ripening, no major heat waves, low yields, tons of intensity, and perfect fruit quality. A harmonious 100% Merlot with serious intensity but balanced with acid freshness and mineral richness. Pretty lovely black cherry, plum, and blueberry fruit aromatics with sagebrush layered in. A soft and plush mouthfeel envelops the palate with a core of dense fruit flavours redolent of mountain-grown blackberries and spiced plums. The tannins are fine and powdery and build on the finish, gaining volume and intensity. A lovely, balanced, and delicious red. Aged 18 months in 90% new French Oak. ~95 Decanter

A blend of fruit from Stagecoach and Waters Ranch (Pahlmeyer's estate vineyard), the 2021 Merlot is a real beauty. Scents of menthol, cedar and a hint of mocha accent the ripe black cherry core, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated and expansive, with a plush, velvety texture that extends through the long, mocha and meat-tinged finish. ~94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The single-varietal 2021 Merlot comes 62% from Waters Ranch and 38% from Stagecoach Vineyard and is due to be bottled very soon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold expressions of juicy blueberries, Morello cherries, and wild blueberries, leading to wafts of rose oil, cardamom, and cumin seed with a waft of fragrant soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a very fine-grained yet firm backbone of ripe, rounded tannins. ~93-95 The Wine Independent

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