Winemaker's Notes

We hand harvested each of our high-elevation sites in the cool of night. At the winery, the clusters were meticulously hand sorted and destemmed, with only the most perfect berries delivered to the tank. Fruit was gently and slowly extracted, spending up to 18 days on skins. Free-run juice was then collected overnight and aged separately from press cuts. We aged the wine in 82% new French oak barrels for 18 months. Select lots were
carefully blended, with a touch of Malbec lending even more plushness and depth. The wine was bottled without fining or filtering in May 2024, enjoying additional bottle age before release.

The 2022 Pahlmeyer Merlot is generous yet structured, a dynamic interplay of intensity and vibrancy.  Aromas of brambly blackberry, macerated black cherry, and wild raspberry rise from the glass, underscored by crushed peppercorn, fresh sage, and a hint of forest floor. On the palate, a rich core of dark plum and fresh fig is wrapped in plush, velvety tannins, while savory, earthy notes emerge with time: tobacco leaf, cocoa nib, and plowed earth.  The finish is long and lifted, carried by the wine’s natural energy and a lingering touch of violet and warm spice.  With its dark fruit core amplified in its youth, this wine will evolve beautifully over the next decade, developing further nuance and refinement.