Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2021 Napa Valley (75cl, 14.5%)

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2021 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Napa Valley. It is made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Malbec. Winemaker Katie Vogt hand-harvested fruit from high-elevation vineyard sites in the cool of night, then hand-sorted and destemmed the grapes before fermenting and ageing each set separately. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were blended first, with Malbec integrated later, and the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The bouquet opens with ripe cherry, cassis and blueberry, followed by lingonberry and boysenberry, with green peppercorn, saddle leather and forest floor. The palate is full-bodied and lush, with dense blackcurrant and plum, licorice spice, spearmint, cocoa, graphite, tobacco leaf and black olive. The finish is long, with ultra-fine, velvety tannins and dusty mineral and dark berry notes.