Pym Rae
Tesseron Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
brambly & smoky w leather, soft licorice & caramel ~ extracted w dark berries, fig & damson plum to hypothetical fuzzy fruit roll ups
brambly & smoky w leather, soft licorice & caramel ~ extracted w dark berries, fig & damson plum to hypothetical fuzzy fruit roll ups
Oct 26th, 2022
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.
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.
2017 haven’t been my favourite vintage (in Napa) of the more recent releases. But this is seriously good. It is dark and dense full bodied wine. Plums, baking spices, graphite, black tea, orange peel, espresso, pink pepper. Balanced, complex, intense with great length. This is a sneak peak. It will obviously improve with further bottle age.
2017 haven’t been my favourite vintage (in Napa) of the more recent releases. But this is seriously good. It is dark and dense full bodied wine. Plums, baking spices, graphite, black tea, orange peel, espresso, pink pepper. Balanced, complex, intense with great length. This is a sneak peak. It will obviously improve with further bottle age.
Mar 12th, 2023
Fun fact- the vineyards were once owned by Robbin Williams. Enjoyed a vertical tasting 2016, 2017 and 2018. 2016 was my favorite. 2018 has the best chance of becoming like 2016. Mt. Veeder fruit so I knew I would love it. Beautiful, bramble fruit, full bodied, Napa red blend. @55Seventy
Fun fact- the vineyards were once owned by Robbin Williams. Enjoyed a vertical tasting 2016, 2017 and 2018. 2016 was my favorite. 2018 has the best chance of becoming like 2016. Mt. Veeder fruit so I knew I would love it. Beautiful, bramble fruit, full bodied, Napa red blend. @55Seventy
Dec 15th, 2022
Bob had this 6 months ago
Bob had this 6 months ago
Nov 16th, 2023
