2008 Pahlmeyer Winery Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley

The 2008 Proprietary Red Wine blend (essentially a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec blended in) has a more opaque/purple color. With more graphite, blueberry and lilac notes, sweet tannin, medium to full body, and an elegant, gracious feel, it is more restrained than previous examples but has no shortage of richness and concentration. It looks to be a beauty in a Bordeaux style, with sweet tannins but loads of fruit unmistakably California but French in structure. Drink it over the next 15+ years. Tel. (707) 255-2321; Fax (707) 255-6786 Review Date: December 2010