2011 Pahlmeyer PNV
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Tasting notes
(15.2% alcohol; 94% cabernet sauvignon with 2% each merlot and cabernet franc and 1% each petit verdot and malbec): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, herbs and dark chocolate. Denser and deeper than the 2011 merlot without any loss of pliancy. Still, the dark fruit flavors show a slightly intrusive menthol greenness and less easy sweetness. Finishes with rather suave tannins. This release features the highest percentage of cabernet sauvignon to date.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A beguiling, layered wine, the 2011 Proprietary Red impresses for its nuance, vibrancy and delineation. Grilled herbs, graphite, smoke, new leather and incense meld together in a vibrant wine endowed with gorgeous depth and intensity. The tannins are just a bit firm, hardly a surprise for a wine made from mountain fruit and the year, but the 2011 stands out for its impeccable balance and pure class. The 2011 is Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly from Stagecoach, with drops of Malbec and Petit Verdot.
The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 Proprietary Red is, as usual, a blend of five grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. It exhibits Pahlmeyer’s tell-tale suppleness as well as a sexy, upfront display of ripe fruit, flowers, black currants, cherries and a hint of espresso. It is not the biggest or richest blend made, but it is well put together with no hint of herbaceousness. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years. Tel. (707) 255-2321
(96% cabernet sauvignon plus 1% each merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec): Good bright medium ruby. Rather cool, herbal nose offers scents of cassis and cassis bud, bitter chocolate and menthol. Rich, plush and truffley, but with some herbal coolness giving shape and lift to this essentially gentle wine. The tannins are sweeter than those of the merlot, but underlying minerality contributes to the impression of definition.