Pym Rae

Tesseron Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

9.433 ratings
9.37 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Top Notes For
Daron Watson

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
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.

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.

Sep 23rd, 2019
Russ W
8.9

‘19

‘19

May 13th, 2024
Adam Gäfvert

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
Deborah M

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
John Van Trijp

The best vintage to date

The best vintage to date

Sep 8th, 2022
Wooly Sheep

2016 vintage

2016 vintage

Sep 11th, 2021
Bob Bath

Master Sommelier & Educator CIA Greystone

9.0

Bob had this a year ago

Bob had this a year ago

Nov 16th, 2023
Matt Sterr

Matt had this 4 years ago

Matt had this 4 years ago

May 20th, 2021
web bond

web had this 5 years ago

web had this 5 years ago

Jan 21st, 2020