Pahlmeyer Merlot 2021 – 750ml Johnson Brothers

95pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown The Wine Independent

The single-varietal 2021 Merlot comes 62% from Waters Ranch and 38% from Stagecoach Vineyard and is due to be bottled very soon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold expressions of juicy blueberries, Morello cherries, and wild blueberries, leading to wafts of rose oil, cardamom, and cumin seed with a waft of fragrant soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a very fine-grained yet firm backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and beautiful tension to support the black fruit and floral layers, finishing long with a spicy lift.

Winemaker Notes

The commanding concentration of our Napa Valley Merlot is evident from first swirl, as bold aromas of crushed wild blackberries dominate the bouquet. The palate abounds with silky layers—an abundance of ripe black cherry and currant unfurl to earthy, savory notes of leather, camphor, and prosciutto, finishing long with an echo of anise, almond brittle,and tea leaf. Gorgeous structure and mid-palate focus suggest this cellar-worthy wine will evolve beautifully for a decade or more.

The 2019 vintage was mild, long, and evenly paced. After generous winter rains, a cool and wet spring emerged.  Storms in March and April delayed budbreak, and more showers in late May gave vines a welcome water reserve for the growing season. Early June brought steady, warm temperatures and sunshine that persisted throughout the growing season. These ideal conditions allowed our vines to develop consistent, clean clusters with complex, layered flavors and excellent structure. Brief late season heatspikes ushered the berries’ maturity before settling into mild, acidity-preserving conditions as harvest began. As a result, exceptional, well-developed fruit was delivered into the cellar.