Pym-Rae, Tesseron Estate, Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, California, 2019

Overview of the Wine
For a family owning vineyards of exceptional quality, a place of great reputation and potential was necessary.

An obvious choice was Napa in California. But not just anywhere in the Valley.
The climate’s generous nature needed to be moderated by locally cool conditions: this meant a high-altitude vineyard. To produce deep and balanced wines, sedimentary soils were needed with historic marine deposits gradually evolved over millions of years. The Mount Veeder region provided all of this.

The vineyard had to be planted with Bordeaux varieties, the same that the family had experience with at Pontet-Canet. Finally, the vines had to be mature as only older plants have established a deep root system, allowing them to extract the terroir’s purest expressionand minerality which will yield full and complex wines.

It is not the easiest land to cultivate, because certain areas are steep and precipitous, resulting in only a modest crop of grapes. It is a remote location, like an island of nature, in the middle of nowhere. And to reach it requires a determined effort.

Yet this is the land that chose us.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot

Origin
Napa Valley, California 

Winemaker Tasting Notes
The vines are tended like a botanical garden, the cellar is like a secret cave, and the wine in vats is brimming with energy and freshness.

DEPTH, BALANCE and FRESHNESS : every detail is carefully considered to reveal the potential of this rare vineyard, and gracefully highlight its unique character. The

Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae 2019 is an exceptional Napa Valley red that has garnered significant praise. This vintage features a deep purple-black color, indicative of its rich concentration. On the nose, it opens with intense aromas of crème de cassis, black cherry compote, and blueberry pie, enhanced by hints of clove oil, lilacs, licorice, and tar, along with a spicy touch of cumin seed. The palate is full-bodied and dynamic, showcasing bright fruit flavors interwoven with fragrant floral notes, minerally sparks, and exotic spices. It has a taut backbone of invigorating acidity, complemented by firm, ripe, grainy tannins, leading to an epic, multi-layered finish that lingers impressively. This vintage also marks the first certified organic and biodynamic production for the estate, underscoring their commitment to quality and sustainability.

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Château Pym-Rae is a textbook Mount Veeder Cabernet with its exotic red, blue, and black fruits as well as complex notes of mountain scrub brush, lavender, tobacco, and lead pencil. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine yet substantial tannins, and a great finish. It's one of those 'iron fist in a velvet glove' type wines that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and shine over the following two decades.Drink: 2025-2047.

97 Points - James Suckling
Extremely aromatic with flowers, currants, plums, and cocoa. Full-bodied with compacted fruit and ultra-fine tannins giving it a suppleness and finesse, yet it’s very structured and long. Turns to sandalwood, hazelnut and subtle currants. Round and velvety texture at the end. Slightly deeper and denser. 55% new French barrels and 45% concrete eggs for 18 months. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc and 5% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Needs four or five years. An excellent mountain wine from the family owners of Pontet Canet. Try after 2026.

Product size: 750ml