Proprietor Reserve (2020)

About this wine

This Bordeaux inspired Pennsylvania red brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec in a way that feels both generous and composed. The first impression leans into black cherry and blackberry, then opens into plum, cocoa, cedar, and a touch of tobacco. There is a gentle floral lift from the Cabernet Franc, which keeps the darker fruit from feeling heavy. The texture is supple and steady, with enough structure to give the wine shape while staying very approachable. Penns Woods has been one of the key names proving that southeastern Pennsylvania can turn out serious red blends, and this bottling shows why the winery has earned that reputation. The estate story starts with founder Gino Razzi, an Italian importer who saw real promise in the old vineyard sites around Chadds Ford, and wines like this still carry that Old World minded, locally grounded personality.

About the grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is a Bordeaux variety brought into Penns Woods for structure and age ability, grown on the Chadds Ford estate in clay rich, iron stained soils and managed with cane pruning to control vigor and ripening. Merlot provides mid palate richness and was selected from cooler slope plantings at the Sandy Hill site, where loam and schist fragments temper heat and the variety shows earlier bud break and reliable ripening. Cabernet Franc contributes aromatic lift and peppery bite, it is a longtime Pennsylvania planting here trained to balance yields and preserve acidity, often blended to add complexity rather than dominate. Malbec is used as a small supporting variety, its darker color and plush tannins come from select blocks that tolerate the region s seasonal swings, and it is typically harvested slightly earlier to retain freshness in the blend.

Quick facts

• 🍇 Proprietor Reserve is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Penns Woods made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, which is relatively uncommon for a Pennsylvania estate wine.
• 🏷️ The Proprietor Reserve 2020 is a limited-release 'reserve' bottling from Penns Woods, positioned above their regular table wines as a premium offering.
• 🌿 Penns Woods Winery crafts this wine at their Chadds Ford/Brandywine Valley location, an area better known for scenic history than big reds, giving the bottle a local, boutique identity.
• 📦 The Proprietor Reserve label is sold through specialty channels and wine retailers rather than mass supermarkets, making 2020 bottles less widely available and a bit of a regional collectible.
• 🏛️ Penns Woods often highlights experienced winemaking on their reserve releases, so the 2020 Proprietor Reserve reflects the winery’s multi-decade winemaking tradition in Pennsylvania rather than a single-varietal experiment.

Palate profile

Producer

Penns Woods Winery was founded in 2001 by Italian immigrant and USMC veteran Gino Razzi, who transitioned from decades as a wine importer to winemaking in Pennsylvania. After rehabilitating a vineyard in Chadds Ford, he began producing premium, Euro-style wines that highlight the unique flavors of the region. The winery has expanded to over 40 acres across three sites in Southeastern Pennsylvania, cultivating 11 different varietals. Notably, Penns Woods Winery is one of only two wineries in the U.S. situated on a national park, offering access to miles of trails in the First State National Historical Park.