2007 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

SKU #1064063 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The sensational 2007 Proprietary Red Wine (a 7,000-case blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec) is slightly more restrained aromatically than the Merlot, but there is no doubting its extraordinary bouquet of subtle smoked meats, oak, mountain wild flowers, blueberries, blackberries, coffee, and cassis. Super-rich and full-bodied with noticeable, but stunningly sweet tannins, it possesses a rare minerality and definition, characteristics that seem to be found across the board in Napa’s 2007s. This dense, powerful red needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and should have 25 years of life ahead of it. One of California’s super-star producers, Pahlmeyer’s wines have a fabulous track record of aging well. This estate was one of Helen Turley’s first clients, and since she departed one of her assistants, Erin Green, has continued to turn out sumptuous reds as well as exquisite Chardonnays. The 2007 reds appear to be the finest Pahlmeyer has produced in a decade ... and that includes some top-flight wines. (12/ 2009)

95 points Wine Spectator

A rich, explosive style, packed with layers of currant, blackberry, wild berry and black cherry fruit woven together in a tight way. Full-bodied, turning supple and polished on the finish, where the fine-grained tannins are ripe and let the fruit flavors flow freely. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2020. (9/ 2010)

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Full ruby-red. Slightly syrupy dark fruit aromas complicated by truffle and earth, with an element of minerality providing lift. Then surprisingly ripe and lively in the mouth, with very intense, rich black fruit, licorice and mint flavors. Offers a lovely combination of sweetness and lift and a real impression of small-berry concentration. (6/ 2010)

90 points Connoisseurs Guide

It may be labeled simply as red wine, but this big, bold, positively mouthfilling effort is anything but a simple quaffer, and it shows the usual Pahlmeyer stamp of high extract and unabashed ripeness. It is a wine that can be safely described as being a bit over the top, but, while some may find its heat and considerable tannins a little too much, it is certain to thrill those in search of powerful Cabernets that make no apologies for richness. (12/ 2010)