Somm 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. — 6 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.3

Smells like a Cockburn, or maybe it’s that nuttiness of a bone-dry Sherry. Nuts and gym socks sitting in rubber. Does not disappoint, coming through in the end with a sharp zing of energy and a finish that lasts to infinity; like a Sherry would. Really good. — 8 years ago

Andy Mc Nees

9.6

What a bottle. Pristine condition. #winebid for a steal. Almost sweet but not. Lavish texture. Delicious factor is infinity. I heart @andrewwill — 8 years ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

Amazing Falanghina. Floral. Has earthy undertones. Woody. This wine brings me to infinity... and beyond! — 8 years ago

Keith Ward

9.4

Fantastic Barbera - best I've had in a long time! Total fruit forward with a long/lingering finish. Deep red - drink now to infinity! — 10 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.5

Astonishing fruit concentration with a crystalline freshness that is impressingly managing to interwove the pronounced savory complexity. Mesmerizing presence on the palate that is pulsing through the long finish. Yet it’s only a baby and God knows what this will be as an adult. The legend sure is true, Gonon: St Joseph elevated to infinity. — 6 years ago

Cristóbal Arellano Borges

9.0

Zippy acid, crunchy red fruit. Not too polished, still has that rustic Sicilian vibe to it. Infinity glu-glugable — 7 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.2

This is the boss of wines. See what I did there? Google translate the word padrone. Good stuff. Still remember sitting by that infinity pool and drinking this in 2014. The 2012 is a stellar vintage. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.8

Unbelievable. This wine hit all the superlatives. Profound depth, seamless mid-palate, smooth lush finish. This may be a top 10 all time wine for me. Poise and class times infinity divided by epic. — 8 years ago

chris

9.5

Very smooth — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

For Oregon pinot, this one is rather good. Lots brambly fruit with an herb front and middle. Lots of sweet raspberry and black cherry in the front, with a FULLY EXTRACTED middle and finish. Compared to a Rivers-Marie 2015, this wine has nothing on it. This is a MASSIVE wine, and as one person stated, the best place for this wine is in the CELLAR at the moment. I do not believe that I will be touching anymore of mine in my cellar. Boss still has a few more in the cellar (about a case), so to infinity and beyond!
— 8 years ago

Anthony Libutti

9.3

They lack wit; we got the mack shit
93 'Til Infinity - kill all that wack shit — 10 years ago

Tom Balamaci

8.9

An updated tar and roses. Unusual Greek blend. Austerity of xinomavro tempered by softer and aromatic merlot and Syrah. Grippy then refreshing to finish. Will benefit from 2 or more years of age, as most xinos do! — 7 years ago

Randall Brater

8.9

Cab franc blend; plum, tobacco and eucalyptus on the nose; light, spicy fruit with earthy undertones on the palate — 7 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Avengers Infinity War- clear straw color. Aromas of lemongrass, tropical fruits and wet rocks. Crisp, citrus and great balance. Fantastic Sonoma County wine. — 7 years ago

Melissa Brooke

9.0

Watching Infinity War!!!!! Also, wine was really good, fruit forward, easy drinking — 8 years ago

Chelsea Balkan

9.6

Light and easy to drink. Would buy again. — 8 years ago

Doug Kahn

9.4

Acid x infinity — 8 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.3

Like a vintage champagne with no bubbles. Yeasty, doughy, crystallized honey on top of an apple crostata. Reason # infinity why Chablis rocks. — 9 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.6

Pure Apple. A hint of spice. Pears and pearls. Don't want it to be gone. Lasts for infinity. Slight tartness. — 10 years ago