Synonymous with Pahlmeyer, Proprietary Red is the winery’s raison d’etre.

“All I wanted to do was to create my own ‘California Mouton’ – a rich, powerful Napa Valley Bordeaux blend, a wine that would drop wine lovers to their knees,” says Jayson Pahlmeyer. The 1986 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red was the realization of Jayson’s dream. Anointed 94 points by Robert Parker, it was the first of an extraordinary legacy of critically acclaimed wines.

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red is a classic Napa Valley Bordeaux blend: roughly 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with a good portion of Merlot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Each variety is harvested separately and held separately throughout fermentation and barrel aging. The lots are aged an average of 18 months in French oak Bordeaux barrels, blended through a meticulous, time-honored artisanal process, and bottled without filtering or fining.

Produced in limited quantities, the Proprietary Red is a wine of superb power and density with commanding tannins and rich, dark flavors that become increasingly lush and seductive with age. Properly cellared, Proprietary Red will evolve magnificently for at least 25 years.

The 2022 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine is a distinguished blend from the North Coast's Napa region in California. Crafted by Pahlmeyer Winery, this red wine primarily features Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), complemented by 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and 3% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot. With an alcohol content of 15.1%, this wine promises a robust tasting experience.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded this vintage a score of 94, noting its complex composition. Joe Czerwinski from the publication described the wine as having a “hint of dried sage on the nose,” which accentuates aromas of cassis, black cherries, vanilla, and black olives. He highlighted its “richly concentrated but rather open-knit” nature, noting its full-bodied character and a mouthwatering finish that tightens up over time.

Decanter gave an excellent review, scoring it 95, praising winemaker Katie Vogt's success despite the vintage’s heat challenges. The review emphasized the wine's depth and structure, with most of its fruit sourced from Upper Range Vineyard, farmed by the Bettinelli family. Katie Vogt described the grapes as resembling “caviar,” indicating their perfection. On the nose, the wine presents “fragrant wild sage and thyme” mingling with rose petals, black cherry, and blackberry. Decanter highlighted its “hefty tannins” and vibrant acidity, complemented by a finish layered with toasted baking spices and scorched herbs. The wine was aged for 15 months in 90% new French oak, utilizing heavy-toast Taransaud and Darnajou barrels.

Overall, the 2022 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine stands as a testament to careful winemaking, offering a complex, yet harmonious blend that reflects its prestigious Napa origins and skilled craftsmanship.