2018 Wayfarer Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard

2018 Wayfarer Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard

2018 Wayfarer Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard Explosive aromatics of violets, lavender, raspberry and blackberry abound as the 2018 Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir opens in the glass. An elegant dance of juicy acidity and rich tannin play on the fresh palate, with notes of forest floor and dark chocolate on the finish. This is a vintage that will oblige early consumption, but given time in the cellar, patience will be handsomely rewarded. Winemaker

The 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard has a medium ruby color and slowly opening perfume of garrigue, dried orange peel, prosciutto and rose petals with mineral-laced cranberry and red and black berry fruits. The medium-bodied palate, grainy and incredibly fresh, slowly gains in flavor amplitude and nuance in the mouth, ending in a fanfare of spicy detail. Rating: 98+ Parker

Pahlmeyer is one of the icons of Napa. The first bottling was in 1986. Napa winemaking royalty have made wine for Pahlmeyer, Randy Dunne, Bob Levy and Helen Turley. The vineyards were planted by the legendary David Abreu. Jayson Pahlmeyer has had a long term love affair with the great Burgundy varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In fact in the 1990’s he had a deal signed deal to buy both red and white Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy in Clos de la Roche in the Cote du Nuit and in Corton. The deal however fell through at the last minute. Jayson knew that, eventually, the perfect site would present itself. He just didn’t realize it would be six years later in the remote hills of the Sonoma Coast at a small farm called Wayfarer. Helen Turley’s legendary Marcassin vineyard is just down the road and it was Helen who found that Wayfarer was for sale and new that it would be perfect for Jayson. Jayson instantly sensed that this secluded place held all the essential elements to produce exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Helen declared it destined to be “the La Tache of California” as Jayson claimed the land for his own.

Wayfarer has gone on to prove itself, making world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wines get massive scores and have become just about impossible to get. Today I have a tiny allocation of 2018 Wayfarer ‘Wayfarer Vineyard’ Pinot Noir that got a huge 98+pts by Parker’s Wine Advocate, making this one of the Pinot Noir releases of the great 2018 vintage, one of the two best vintages for North Coast Pinot Noir in the past 25 years. This is one of California’s greatest examples of Pinot Noir and rivals the quality of the great Grand Cru’s of the Cote du Nuit. If you appreciate the best, this is the best!!

Wayfarer

Wayfarer is the manifestation of a remarkable place, masterful winemaking, and the drive to go to extremes to create something truly exceptional.

After nearly 30 years as an acclaimed Napa Valley vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer became increasingly entranced by the wines of Burgundy. “Every oenophile eventually gravitates to the wines of Burgundy,” he says. In the early 1990s, Jayson began seeking out the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the world.

A close friend, legendary French wine importer Martine Saunier, had located two parcels for sale in Burgundy – Clos de la Roche, a Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyard in Côte de Nuits Grand Cru, and Corton Vergennes, a Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyard in Corton. His winemaker, Helen Turley, was to make the wine with the hands-on assistance of the renowned Michel Niellon at his Chassagne-Montrachet winery. However, just after the papers were signed, the deal was nullified by an obscure Burgundian real estate clause that permitted last-minute alternative offers.

Though these iconic vineyards faded from his dreams, Jayson knew that, eventually, the perfect site would present itself. He just didn’t realize it would be six years later in the remote hills of the Sonoma Coast at a small farm called Wayfarer.