Pym Rae 2019

Chateau Pontet-Canet

Pym Rae is the creation of Alfred Tesseron, owner of Pontet Canet, who took over the estate in January 2016. This is a fantastic Napa wine which fully expresses the Pontet-Canet philosophy, from a unique terroir. Certified biodynamic.

Sourced from a high-altitude vineyard in Mount Veeder planted with 0ver 30 years old vines. Aged for 16 to 18 months in oak barrels (55% new). Pym Rae is a deep and balanced wine with bright fruits and notes of violet, spice and mineral. Full-bodied and smooth with a long finish.

2019 is a vintage of balance, energy and tension. The beginning of the year was marked by abundant rains which preserved humidity in the clay soils until bud burst. A long and hot summer followed, punctuated by misty mornings, with no significant heat wave, and ending with a mild end of season. This climatic balance combined with the altitude of the vineyard allowed us to produce vibrant and expressive wines, preserving freshness and finesse to the fruit. The tannins are silky, the fruit exceptional and the texture ample, signs
of a great vintage.

Delivery
Items are expected to land in the UK May 2024
Producer
Chateau Pontet-Canet
Region
United States
Variety
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Reviews

James Suckling 97 Points, Robert Parker 100 Points

Bottle Format: 75cl

By selecting a "case of 3", you save £3, help the environment and contribute to eco-sustainable development

Variant
Status
Price
Quantity
Case of 3
DP
?
£1149
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Case of 3
IB
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£947.57
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Ratings

97 Points James Suckling

Extremely aromatic with flowers, currants, plums, and cocoa. Full-bodied with compacted fruit and ultra-fine tannins giving it a suppleness and finesse, yet it’s very structured and long. Turns to sandalwood, hazelnut and subtle currants. Round and velvety texture at the end. Slightly deeper and denser. 55% new French barrels and 45% concrete eggs for 18 months. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc and 5% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Needs four or five years. An excellent mountain wine from the family owners of Pontet Canet. Try after 2026.

100 Points Robert Parker

From Alfred Tesseron’s (owner of Pontet Canet in Pauillac) estate on Mount Veeder, the 2019 Pym Rae is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-black colored, it requires a fair bit of swirling before it charges out of the gate with bold notes of crème de cassis, black cherry compote, and blueberry pie, followed by suggestions of clove oil, lilacs, licorice, and tar, plus a spicy waft of cumin seed. The full-bodied palate delivers beguiling energy from the brightness of fruit, bursting with fragrant floral notes, minerally sparks, and exotic spices. It has a taut backbone of invigorating acidity, matched by firm, ripe, grainy tannins, supporting the epic long, multi-layered finish. This 2019 is the vinous definition of opulence. This is the first vintage certified organic and biodynamic. Only about 20,000 bottles were made and are due to be released in autumn 2023.

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California

California is the largest and most important wine region in the USA. It accounts for the southern two-thirds (850 miles or 1370 kilometers) of the country's west coast. (Oregon and Washington make up the rest.) The state also spans almost ten degrees of latitude. With mountains, valleys, plains and plateaux, California's topography is as complex as its climate, offering winegrowers a bewildering choice of terroir.

Californian wines only rose to global renown in the past few decades (notably after the Paris Judgment of 1976). However the state's viticultural history dates back more than 200 years. European vines were first planted here in the 18th Century, as settlers and missionaries made their way up and down the west coast. They brought with them the Mission grape – the vinifera variety also instrumental in establishing viniculture in Central and South America. Although very few Mission vines are to be found in California today, it remains a cornerstone of Californian wine.

The first half of the 20th Century brought war, Prohibition and the Great Depression to the United States. Collectively these suffocated the nation's wine industry. It wasn't until the significant social, cultural and economic developments that followed World War 2 that things began to change. In the 1970s, Californian wine industry leaders brought about renewed winemaking passion in other US states, in turn sparking the national wine renaissance. This period saw a proliferation of new, small-scale wineries throughout the country and the upscaling of longer-established operations. Momentum has continued into the 21st century.

Today, California hosts some of the world's largest wine companies. It is also home to a number of boutique wineries, some of which attract astronomical prices for their cult wines. Whether through mass production or single-vineyard artisanal winemaking, California produces 90 percent of American-made wine. It also supplies more than 60 percent of all wine consumed in the country. A record 211.9 million cases were produced in 2011.

The principal varieties grown in California are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. A wide range of traditional European (Vitis vinifera) vines also flourish, including Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Zinfandel can also be included in the list as it is genetically identical to Tribidrag in Croatia and Primitivo in Italy. Among white grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc is a distant second to Chardonnay. These are grafted to hardy American rootstocks which are resistant to phylloxera. Less well known are American/European hybrids producing wines mainly for local consumption.