Tesseron Estate 'Pym-Rae' - Napa Valley 2016

In January 2016, the Tesseron family (owner of Château Pontet-Canet in Bordeaux) became the owners of Villa Sorriso (Villa of Smiles), the former property of the actor Robin Williams.

The actor christened the vineyard with the middle names of his children “PYM” and “RAE”. Due to  this touching story and in respect to the previous owners, the Tesserons have chosen to continue this name for the domain’s wine.

"This is the debut vintage of this wine from the esteemed Bordeaux owner, Alfred Tesseron, who bought the property in the Napa mountains in 2016. Aromas of plums, wet earth, fresh herbs and tobacco. Some green olives. Turns to blueberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, yet reserved and layered with chocolate, walnuts and plums. Firm yet polished tannins give a framed sense to the wine. Savory. Racy and beautifully structured, it’s extremely drinkable already. Real wine." - 98 points, James Suckling

"A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pym-Rae displays a deep garnet-purple color and reveals wonderfully fragrant notes of candied violets, wilted roses, damp soil and black tea over a core of red and black currants, black cherries and warm blackberries plus touches of cigar box and camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is evocatively singular, offering that rock-solid structure of mountain fruit, yet these are wonderfully ripe, silt-like tannins that beautifully support the elegant red and black fruit layers, finishing very long and very perfumed." - 97 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2016 Pym-Rae comes from an estate on Mount Veeder and is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, all aged in 70% new French oak and the balance in concrete vats. The first vintage for this cuvée, it's named after the original estate owner's children, Pym and Rae, which were their middle names. The 2016 is a beautiful wine and has a unique, rich, meaty character as well as lots of dark fruits, mountain scrub brush, tobacco, and leather that develops nicely with time in the glass, showing more and more fruit and purity with air. Full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and textured, it has a mass of tannins, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a solid spine of acidity that keeps it lively and fresh. It offers pleasure today yet is going to benefit from 5-7 years in the cellar. My money is on it evolving for 25-30 years." - 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Tesseron Estate

Country: USA

Region: California

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet franc

Appellation: Napa Valley

Vintage: 2016

Size: 750ml