Winemaker Notes
The 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, alithe 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 lingon berry jam runs long through the finish, interplaying with hints of cedar, fresh leather, and sage that echo long on the finish. Open this wine and pour a glass without decanting to experience the intense aromatics and fresh fruit character of this wine in its youth. Then, taste it again the following day and perhaps even the day after to see how the wine opens and nuances emerge. There’s no question this wine will age beautifully over the next two decades.
Pair with wild mushroom risotto or roasted rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
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.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.
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Vinous
The 2021 Merlot is a potent, explosive wine with tons of textural intensity and power. Black-toned fruit, sage, espresso, chocolate, licorice and copious new oak all stain the palate. Hints of graphite and savory notes add cool-toned complexity. More than anything else, this is most definitely a mountain wine.
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Wine Enthusiast
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 melt in the mouth, balanced by juicy acidity that carries into a long finish.
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Wine Spectator
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.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.