1999
Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
“Striking opaque purple color, and a stunning nose of cherry liqueur intertwined with prunes, black currants, coffee, smoke, and blackberries.”
— Erin Green, Winemaker, 2001
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
- Winemaker
- Erin Green
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Release Date
- October 1, 2002
Winemaking Notes
Harvested at the end of October, this wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 18 months.
Bright, full medium ruby. Subdued but highly complex nose melds black raspberry, blueberry, plum, licorice, mocha, leather and tar. Offers compelling sweetness and density, with sharply focused flavors of black fruits, minerals and roast coffee, but comes across as less expressive today than the merlot, and still tight on the back half. But a wine of outstanding breadth and persistence, deeper and sweeter than the 2000. Tannins are substantial but quite fine.
A dense purple color accompanies its sweet nose of crème de cassis intermixed with smoky, toasty oak, tar and earth. While it leans toward a more austere, Bordeaux-like style, it possesses more glycerin, alcohol and depth than most ripe Bordeaux. The finish exhibits chocolate and black currant flavors, plenty of sweetness, and austere tannin. Drink it over the next 14-15 years.
Ultra-ripe, pushing it to the max. Rich mocha-laced black cherry and blackberry fruit. Hints of milk chocolate, herb and currant. Finishes with smooth, plush tannins and excellent length and complexity.
