Paul J

9.4

PnP’d. Should have given an hour decant. Medium red color. Is a cross between Pinot, Cab, and a Spanish red. Mix the Aubert Pinot I had the other night and Pontet Canet and you get close. Bright red fruit with plenty of oak. Perfect drinking age!! What a great gift and surprise!! Thanks Malcolm! — 3 years ago

with Brooke

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is Alfred Tesseron’s (Owner of Pontet Canet) Napa Valley’s project on Mount Veeder. You can also clearly see Sugar Loaf from the property.

The previous owner of the property was the late comedian Robin Williams. Robin never made wine and the fruit was sold to other producers.

The name Pym-Rae is an homage to Robin Willams two children.

The Winemaker for Pym-Rae is the son of Jean-Michel (Winemaker of Pontet Canet), Thomas Comme. Thomas has taken out all the drip irrigation and dry farms all the fruit. He has some progressive ideas on farming fruit. Pym-Rae is also certified biodynamic and organic.

This 2016 inaugural vintage is just now about to be released.

The nose reveals; big and brooding dark currants, deep; blackberries, black raspberries, big black plum, purple fruit mix, blueberries, black cherries with poached strawberries. Grilled meats, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, touch of incense, burnt ambers, crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, limestone minerals, alluvial soils with nice, purple, dark flowers with violets and hints of lavender.

The body is huge, brooding and thick. Big, dark, meaty, tarry rounded tannins with dusty edges. The structure & tension say it’s big and meant to be well cellared. The length is nice and the balance sets in as it opens up but, will be much better with 5-10 years plus of cellaring. Dark currants, deep, ripe, lush & ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, big black plum, purple fruit mix, blueberries, black cherries with poached strawberries. Grilled meats, cracked pepper, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, black olive, touch of incense, burnt ambers, dark spice with palate heat, lots of crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth, dry stones, dark chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, good presence of dry herbs, cigar box, lots of graphite, limestone minerals, dusty top soil, alluvial soils with nice, dry, withering purple, dark flowers with violets and hints of lavender. beautiful round acidity. The finish starts with ripe, lush fruit and slides into pronounced dry, powdery, tannins and earthiness. It persists until you put something else in your mouth. This is not a pop & pour wine. It needs a very long decant if you drink it young and really should be cellared 8-10 plus years.

Patience will increase my rating by 2-4 points. It is just too young and massive for me to give it a higher score. However, it has all the stuffing for greatness.

Photos of; the yard and estate vines above the main house, 2019 Cabernet grapes that will start harvesting in the next week, a look inside the house Robin built and the infinity pool and view from the terrace. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

This wine was SINGING tonight. Very youthful, exuberant blackberry and cassis. This wine was ready to kick ass and take names, but the oaked finish kind of balked at the wine's true power, and ended up winning tonight. In a 3-bottle lineup of a 2013 Aubert A1X Chardonnay, an 05 Pontet Canet, and this bottle, this one seemed like the unquestionable way to end the night (until the 06 Calera Pinot Noir was poppped). This wine is dark, dense, and even though it is a great pop and pour wine this wine will only improve over the next 10-15 years. Bravo Stuart Spoto. — 6 years ago

with Dan

Zoran Korencan

8.9

2012.....on Friday evening 09.06.2017 — 7 years ago

Vincent Lamoureux

9.3

Merlot délicieux — 7 years ago

Jan A

9.2

Rounded out very nicely on day two. I would say that the remaining bottles would peak in two to three years. Not the most complicated wine but a pleasure to drink nevertheless — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Post steak 🥩, nice with a cool breeze in the backyard.
Wine Advocate: 98 points

The Tesseron family (currently the proprietors of St.-Estèphe’s Lafon-Rochet and Pauillac’s Pontet-Canet) made its fortune in the Cognac business, and it is one of the few families to possess ancient stocks of great vintages that have not been diluted with water or manipulated in any manner. They released small quantities of Lot 29 (1929), which remains the most ethereal Cognac I have ever tasted. I’m no expert, but their newest release, the 1953, seems close in quality to the 1929. Slightly darker than the 1929, the 1953 is pure silk, which at this alcohol level is very dangerous indeed. The complex aromatics can fill a room.

— 4 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

The stage was set. Pontet Canet in the left corner, Leonetti reserve in the right corner. Leonetti came in strong, intense, rich, powerful with strong dry blue berry, dark cherry fruit and a well integrated tannins with hints of oak and tobacco. Broad on the pallet, all in. Who won? Almost too close to call. Such different style. Broad and bold verse intense and deep. Check the ratings! — 5 years ago

with Tammy

JR

9.0

Reliably St-Emilion, sturdy and delicate at the same time. Good balance, great velvety touch. — 6 years ago

with Sarah Boyle

Chris Grimm

9.0

Acid on point. Very refreshing. — 7 years ago

with Brooke and Paula

Bill Bender

9.3

Classic lunch bags and just a stellar treat in a crowded sea of Napa cab. My fave 5th growth by a long shot but Pontet Canet and Grand Puy Lacoste aren't far behind. The Lynch seems to shine for me regardless of vintage. — 7 years ago

Charlie Evans

9.2

Blew the Pontet-Canet out. Drinking wonderful. Out of a magnum. — 7 years ago

Todd Anderson

9.3

Not cognac expert but this is really good stuff, one of the best I've had. And from Alfred Tesseron of Pontet Canet, my fav Paulliac. — 4 years ago

Marvin Liu

9.5

Drank side by side with 2012 Pontet and crushed it. — 4 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.6

Love this wine. Great energy and transparency. Lots going on with white truffle, iodine, blackberry and some blood orange. Vibrant palate. In a great spot now. — 5 years ago

Buffy sommers

9.0

2016 -so delish and drinkable. Nice berry light palate. — 6 years ago

Laura Gallimore

9.2

Nick loves — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.4

I’m a sucker for barton. Family liked the pontet canet better but this st julien was delicious. Black currant, leather, mineral - classic Bordeaux. If you want a producer well priced and built to age this is it. — 6 years ago

Richard Davies

9.1

Very smooth. — 7 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.5

More approachable than the pontet cantet 2006. Opens up pretty quickly — 7 years ago

with Bill