Pahlmeyer Merlot comes both from their estate vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard. It includes about 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. The grapes are sorted by vibrating table and by hand before destemming, and then hand-sorted again afterward.

Cold maceration lasts five days. Fermentation takes place in wood with 15% going into 500 liter puncheons and the rest in new French oak barrels (Seguin Moreau and Taransaud). After gente pressing in a stainless-steel basket press, the wine is returned to barrel for 20 aging months before bottling.

The 2015 Pahlmeyer Merlot from Napa Valley, California, is a distinguished offering from Pahlmeyer Winery, renowned for producing high-quality Merlots. This vintage is characterized by its deep red color and complex flavor profile, representative of the North Coast region. It is sealed with a traditional cork and has an alcohol content of 14.5%.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated this Merlot between 93 and 95 points, hailing it as one of the few "truly profound Merlots being made in California." The review highlights the wine's "big, fleshy, rather hefty and chewy style" with notes of chocolate, blackberry, and cassis. Parker mentions the challenging 2015 growing season, which resulted in a reduced crop by 50-60% due to poor flowering, but still praises the wine's "extraordinary opulence" and "voluptuous texture." He suggests it can be enjoyed young but will age "effortlessly for 20-25 years."

James Suckling awarded the 2015 Pahlmeyer Merlot a 96-point score. He describes it as having "aromas of blackberries, violets and dark fruits," emphasizing its aromatic quality. Suckling points out its "full-bodied, round-textured and very balanced" nature, noting its "firmness and freshness" and suggesting that it is "energetic at the end." He recommends drinking it now or holding it for future enjoyment.

Wine Enthusiast also gave this Merlot a high score of 95 points, describing it as "hugely concentrated and a touch reduced." The review likens the flavor to "dark-cherry cobbler" and notes the pronounced barrel oak that supports the wine's seasoning of black pepper, violet, and plum. The structure indicates that it will benefit from further cellaring, with optimal enjoyment between 2025 and 2030.

Wine Spectator rated it slightly lower at 91 points, but still recognized its quality. The review notes "decadently ripe aromas" and flavors of "green olive, dried cherry and raspberry that are vibrant and well-spiced." Additional fig and tarry notes are noticeable on the finish. Wine Spectator suggests drinking this wine now through 2021.

Overall, the 2015 Pahlmeyer Merlot is a robust and well-structured wine that has garnered excellent reviews from multiple respected sources. It promises both immediate enjoyment and long-term aging potential.