Jay Kline

9.8

Okay, so we’ve had Gentaz and Verset along with a ridiculous collection of other truly great wines; the likes of which could have easily stood very much on their own and been the showpiece of the night. But we weren’t finished yet. So why not another mythical creature? Chave’s Vin de Paille is so rare. It’s only been made a dozen or so times in history and always in tiny numbers. The 1990 Vin de Paille pours like a liquid Tiger’s eye with notes of persimmons, golden raisins, and peach crisp. So rich and yet, not cloying. An amazing pairing with foie toast and candied chestnuts. Drink now through infinity. Honestly, I don’t know how a wine like this ever dies unless it lives a hard life. — a month ago

Aaron Tan

9.5

Another knockout from Olivier. Deep and powerful, yet retains such transparancy and elegance. I loved this! For me, it was less about the fruit and more about the chalky, warm earth, saline characters here. Riesling-worthy acidity that just carries the minerality to infinity. Doesn't seem to flesh out throughout the week it remained open, so definitely could use a couple of years in the cellar. Wish I had more. — 3 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.5

Astonishing fruit concentration with a crystalline freshness that is impressingly managing to interwove the pronounced savory complexity. Mesmerizing presence on the palate that is pulsing through the long finish. Yet it’s only a baby and God knows what this will be as an adult. The legend sure is true, Gonon: St Joseph elevated to infinity. — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

I want this to infinity. Cherry/raspberry more berries and a hot lick of cinnamon and white pepper. J’adore — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2003 vintage. To infinity and beyond. Throwing a vintage portesque amount of sed. In the nose, post-rain earth, dried shrooms, infinitesimal hint of milk chocolate. Light-medium bod. Maan…did that finish, Cranberries-style, linger. Do you have to do you have to bring that much cedar and chocolate-covered espresso bean to the show? At the top of the bell curve and would seem to effortlessly have another decade double-parked there. Imho, consistently shows the best of the 1st growths with the least. Courtesy of @Bill Bender — 2 years ago

with Bill

Aaron Rankin

9.4

I’m a noob to Santa Cruz pinots, and looking forward to exploring the appellation in time.

PnP at cellar temp. Very light in color and body, true to its 12% abv. Nose is immediately intense and complex. Freshly baked cherry pie, sweet baking spices, botanicals, just-lighted bonfire, wet forest floor, soy sauce, and a catch all of funk. Palette is tense at this age, striking in the front and lifted in the mid. The finish lingers to infinity like a sherry would. Beautiful and very Burgundian. But an unusual bedfellow to tonight’s dinner of frozen pizza 🙃. — 4 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.6

Quick notes, not to underplay this wine. Tropical fruits leap right into your nose. Texturally incredible. Finish goes to infinity. — 2 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.0

Nice house Cabernet at Infinity Bar. Paired well with porterhouse steak. Nicely blended, solid fruit, medium tannins and acidity. Nice for a house wine. — 3 years ago

Nate Hards

10

THIS WINE IS THE BEST WINE OF ALL TIME!!! FLAME EMOJIS TO INFINITY AND BEYOND — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is Alfred Tesseron’s (Owner of Pontet Canet) Napa Valley’s project on Mount Veeder. You can also clearly see Sugar Loaf from the property.

The previous owner of the property was the late comedian Robin Williams. Robin never made wine and the fruit was sold to other producers.

The name Pym-Rae is an homage to Robin Willams two children.

The Winemaker for Pym-Rae is the son of Jean-Michel (Winemaker of Pontet Canet), Thomas Comme. Thomas has taken out all the drip irrigation and dry farms all the fruit. He has some progressive ideas on farming fruit. Pym-Rae is also certified biodynamic and organic.

This 2016 inaugural vintage is just now about to be released.

The nose reveals; big and brooding dark currants, deep; blackberries, black raspberries, big black plum, purple fruit mix, blueberries, black cherries with poached strawberries. Grilled meats, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, touch of incense, burnt ambers, crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, limestone minerals, alluvial soils with nice, purple, dark flowers with violets and hints of lavender.

The body is huge, brooding and thick. Big, dark, meaty, tarry rounded tannins with dusty edges. The structure & tension say it’s big and meant to be well cellared. The length is nice and the balance sets in as it opens up but, will be much better with 5-10 years plus of cellaring. Dark currants, deep, ripe, lush & ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, big black plum, purple fruit mix, blueberries, black cherries with poached strawberries. Grilled meats, cracked pepper, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, black olive, touch of incense, burnt ambers, dark spice with palate heat, lots of crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth, dry stones, dark chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, good presence of dry herbs, cigar box, lots of graphite, limestone minerals, dusty top soil, alluvial soils with nice, dry, withering purple, dark flowers with violets and hints of lavender. beautiful round acidity. The finish starts with ripe, lush fruit and slides into pronounced dry, powdery, tannins and earthiness. It persists until you put something else in your mouth. This is not a pop & pour wine. It needs a very long decant if you drink it young and really should be cellared 8-10 plus years.

Patience will increase my rating by 2-4 points. It is just too young and massive for me to give it a higher score. However, it has all the stuffing for greatness.

Photos of; the yard and estate vines above the main house, 2019 Cabernet grapes that will start harvesting in the next week, a look inside the house Robin built and the infinity pool and view from the terrace. — 5 years ago