The 2022 Proprietary Red continues a vision that began nearly four decades ago. When Jayson Pahlmeyer released his first Proprietary Red in 1986, the aim was never simply another strong Napa Valley wine. He set out to make a California red that could stand with the world’s finest. That early work helped shape what later became known as "Cult Wines." Fruit for this vintage comes primarily from Upper Range Vineyard above Rutherford, with additional lots from Waters Ranch, Stagecoach, Round Pond, and Vangone. Each ferments and ages on its own for eighteen months before Katie Vogt assembles the final blend, letting every site contribute its character while the whole gains depth, harmony, and precision. Napa’s 2022 season tested growers at every turn, yet the decisions made along the way produced a Proprietary Red that sits comfortably among Pahlmeyer’s strongest. Depth, structure, and refinement remain the hallmarks after nearly forty years.