Tesseron Estate 'Pym-Rae' - Napa Valley 2018

 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.

"The 2018 Pym-Rae reveals a deep garnet-purple color and a slightly reticent, slowly emerging nose of freshly crushed blackcurrants, ripe blackberries and wild blueberries with suggestions of garrigue, red currant jelly, mossy tree bark and truffles plus wafts of bouquet garni and Sichuan pepper. The palate is full-bodied and fantastically concentrated with tightly wound layers of black and red berry notions, framed by very firm yet beautifully ripe tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length and loads of mineral sparks." - 98 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Pym-Rae can be thought of as a hypothetical mix of the 2016 and 2017, with more sexiness and opulence than the 2017 and a touch more elegance and precision than the 2016. Wonderful cassis, violets, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate notes define this beauty, and it's full-bodied, with a gorgeous sense of elegance and purity, perfect tannins, and an incredible finish. This stunningly majestic, flawlessly balanced Mountain Cabernet already offers pleasure yet will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and it should be a 50-year wine. Bravo!" - 99 points, Jeb Dunnuck

"This is extremely aromatic with blackberries, black pepper and spice. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with very tight, fine tannins and a racy, refined finish. Raspberries and currants at the end. Very fine and polished. The center fruit is so pure. Aged in 60% new wood barrels and 40% concrete. Drink in 2023 and onwards." - 97 points, James Suckling

Producer: Tesseron Estate

Country: USA

Region: California

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Appellation: Napa Valley

Vintage: 2018

Size: 750ml