The 2019 Tesseron Estate Pym Rae is a proprietary blend from the North Coast of California, specifically Napa. This red wine comes with a 15.0% alcohol content and is sealed with a cork. The blend predominantly consists of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot, all sourced from biodynamically grown grapes certified by Demeter.
The Wine Independent awarded this vintage a perfect score of 100 points, emphasizing its deep purple-black color and complex flavor profile. The reviewer noted, "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." The wine also features hints of clove oil, lilacs, licorice, and tar, complemented by a backbone of invigorating acidity and firm, ripe tannins.
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine 98 points, describing it as a "textbook Mount Veeder Cabernet" with a rich palate of red, blue, and black fruits, along with exotic notes of mountain scrub brush, lavender, tobacco, and lead pencil. According to Dunnuck, the wine has a "layered, elegant mouthfeel" and "ultra-fine yet substantial tannins," making it a wine that will improve with 2-4 years of age and shine over the next two decades.
James Suckling also praised the wine, giving it 97 points and highlighting its "extremely aromatic" nature with notes of flowers, currants, plums, and cocoa. Suckling remarked on its "supple and finesse" texture and mentioned the presence of sandalwood, hazelnut, and subtle currants.
Decanter awarded the wine 98 points, calling it "seamless and simply mind-boggling" with pure blackberry fruit, crème de cassis, and graphite. The reviewer noted the wine's balance, freshness, and complex layers of fruit and earth, describing it as possessing a "profoundly symphonic and lyrical fruit melody."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated the wine 96+, highlighting its ripe and concentrated nature with scents of cassis, violet, and dark chocolate. The full-bodied palate is described as "silky-smooth, framed by dusty tannins on the long, focused finish."
In summary, the 2019 Tesseron Estate Pym Rae has garnered high praise from multiple reviewers for its rich, complex flavors, elegant structure, and potential for aging. It stands out as an exceptional offering from the Tesseron family, known for their stewardship of Château Pontet-Canet in Pauillac.