Pym-Rae Tesseron Estate Visit

Written By Dom Such

Visit Date: December 16, 2024

Tasting Guide

Jérôme Ledit

Estate Manager/Winemaker

Jérôme Ledit, my estate tour guide and the vineyard manager/winemaker, joined Pym-Rae in 2020, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a gentlemanly charm to his role. With an in-depth understanding of the vineyard blocks and the intricacies of biodynamic farming, he provides a comprehensive and engaging experience for visitors. Jérôme’s passion for the estate and his expertise ensure he is both excited and well-prepared to uphold the Tesseron family’s high standards.

 
“Biodynamics is a way of farming that treats the vineyard as a living, breathing organism.”
— Alfred Tesseron
 

Tasting Notes

  • Known for : Estate Wine. One bottling.

    Rating: Excellent+

    Profile: This is a dry, full red wine that has assertive, grippy tannins with flavors of fruit, oak, mineral, and earth. The wine is youthful from a solar vintage.

    Tasting Note: Ripe and Complex. A fascinating aromatic spectrum from purple fruit and violets to pine and sage to savory olive and smoked meat reminiscent of Cornas. Very fine, firm textured tannins frame the mid palate. Powerful wine with a long future.

    Capture the Vintage: 2019 showed a long warmer season and often less acidity than 2018. The Pym-Rae successfully captures the warmth of the vintage in its intense concentration and large-scaled volume.

    *Tasted on December 16, 2024

    *Find details about Rating Scale and Wine Profile System at the bottom.

  • Known for : Estate Wine. One bottling.

    Rating: Very Good.

    Profile: This is a dry, full red wine that has assertive, grippy tannins with flavors of fruit, oak, mineral, and earth. The wine is youthful from a solar vintage.

    Tasting Note: The potential of the site can be felt, but the wine lacking some clarity and delineation on both the palate and nose. Well structured and balanced. Fruit has remained youthful with aromatics of pine and olive that seem to be characteristic of the site.

    Capture the Vintage: Warmer Spring into a hot end of season. The wine captures the generosity of the vintage.

    *Tasted on December 16, 2024

    *Find details about Rating Scale and Wine Profile System at the bottom.

Packaging

 
 

The wooden box for Pym-Rae features a constellation engraved into its surface—a thoughtful and symbolic detail. This constellation represents the beginning date of the harvest, connecting the wine to the celestial rhythms that guide the biodynamic practices of the estate.

 

The Daily Planet Globe

The globe, of the Daily Planet from Superman—a role Christopher Reeve famously played—was a gift to Robin Williams, symbolizing their deep friendship. Today, it also represents the international presence of Tesseron Estate, with its roots in Cognac, Bordeaux, and Napa Valley.

The Upper Vineyard

In the backyard of the property, the upper vineyard of Pym-Rae sits high on Mount Veeder in the Mayacamas Range, above the fog line. Captured in December, Napa’s rainy season, the site has volcanic soils. At this remote location, the vineyard benefits from higher rainfall with excellent water retention that enables dry farming since 2016. The high elevation provides ample sunshine, supporting the vineyard’s biodynamic practices amidst the rugged terrain. Note, the estate’s merlot is planted on this upper vineyard.

 

    • Perfection

    • Outstanding

    • Excellent

    • Very Good

    • Good

    • Neutral

    • Mediocre

    • Poor

    • Very Bad

    • Undrinkable

    *The rating scale I use for wines is simple and personal—it reflects the pleasure a wine gives a person at that specific moment, focusing on enjoyment rather than rigid criteria.

  • Red Wine Structure

    • Sweetness: Dry / Off-Dry / Sweet

    • Body: Lean / Full

    • Tannin Quantity: Subtle / Assertive

    • Tannin Quality: Velvety / Grippy

    Flavors

    • Fruit

    • Mineral

    • Oak

    • Earth

    Vintage

    • Solar = sun-drenched years marked by abundant sunshine and elevated temperatures, higher alcohol, more rich and ripe.

    • Classic = moderate temperatures, even ripening, well balanced

    • Cool = lower temperatures, higher acid, lower alcohol, more delicate and fresh.

    Age

    • Youthful = Fresh and Vibrant. Primary and minimal influence from aging.

    • Developing = Freshness and emerging complexity.

    • Mature = Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary are all on display.

    • Tertiary = Minimal traces of primary fruit remain.

Dom Such
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