2009 Pahlmeyer Merlot
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Tasting notes
Rich, slightly medicinal aromas of brambly blackberry, plum, menthol and chocolate. Broad and fine-grained, with herbs and a leafy element keeping the mid-palate quite dry. In a closed stage today, with the herbal and leafy notes accentuated by dusty tannins. I wanted a bit more freshness and depth of fruit.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Merlot is a soft, fragrant offering with excellent complexity in its sweet red berries, flowers and spices. This delicate, feminine Merlot is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant.
The 2009 Merlot is a soft, fragrant offering with excellent complexity in its sweet red berries, flowers and spices. This delicate, feminine Merlot is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. This is a beautiful set of wines from Pahlmeyer. The wines are increasingly more refined and elegant than in the past. The absurdly heavy bottles, on the other hand, are very 1990s. In other words – out of touch. Tel. (707) 255-2321
(includes 11% cabernet sauvignon): Good bright ruby. Plum, blueberry and dusty brown spices on the nose, lifted by violet and herbs. Supple and soil-driven, with a lightly saline character to the flavors of plum, spices and menthol. Not a sweet style of merlot; in fact, a bit youthfully imploded today. Finishes with slightly aggressive, drying tannins and very good length.