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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Crafting vineyard-driven wines of exceptional power and finesse, Jason Pahlmeyer's high altitude Wayfarer Vineyard perched above the Pacific is the source for the exceptional 97 pt. 2020 Wayfarer Estate Chardonnay and 97 pt. 2019 Wayfarer Estate Pinot Noir, described as "truly sensational, world class wines" by Jeb Dunnuck and not to be missed by collectors and fans of cool climate California Chard and Pinot Noir.
After nearly 30 years as an acclaimed Napa Valley vintner with a reputation for top notch Napa Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay, Pahlmeyer's passion to produce Burgundian style wines led him to the remote and rugged Sonoma Coast in the late 1990's, purchasing the Wayfarer parcel on the recommendation of fellow vintner Helen Turley who proclaimed its unique terroir the "La Tache of California." Joining a group of elite winemakers including Turley, Peter Michael and Williams-Seylem in what is now the Fort Ross Seaview AVA, Pahlmeyer planted a variety of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir clones on the steep, sloping property located above the fog at altitudes between 920 and 1,800 feet, producing his first wine under the Wayfarer label in 2012. Divided into 30 distinct blocks, the Wayfarer Vineyard's high density plantings and low yielding vines produce small concentrated berries, hand harvested at optimal ripeness and vinified parcel by parcel with native yeast under the direction of winemaker Todd Kohn. Described as a "gorgeous wine" with "a ton to offer" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the rich and textured 97 pt. 2020 Wayfarer Estate Chardonnay spent 15 months in 58% new French oak, yielding aromatic layered fruit with integrated acidity and fresh minerality with a "long, expressive finish" according to Wine Spectator's MaryAnn Worobiec. Aged in 53% new French oak for 15 months, the opulently styled 97 pt. 2019 Wayfarer Estate Pinot Noir boasts "firm tannins and powerful lushness" according to the Wine Enthusiast's Virginie Boone, with concentrated silky, spiced fruit and balanced acidity that James Suckling sums up as "very tasty."
With the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA developing a cult following that has fueled demand, cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir connoisseurs will want to consider stocking up on these two exceptional Wayfarer Estate wines (especially with no Pinot Noir made in 2020) – as the Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown succinctly declared, "Lovers of great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is unquestionably a winery to start following." |
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The 2019 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard is a blend of all the blocks with 11 different clones, and the result of a barrel selection. Medium ruby-purple in color, it gallops out with notes of pomegranate, redcurrant jelly, and Bing cherries, plus wafts of violets, star anise, and menthol with a hint of Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and taut, with a solid backbone of grainy tannins and lovely acidity backing up the muscular fruit, finishing long and with wonderful purity.
97 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Jan 2023)
The 2019 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard comes from all 11 clones grown on the Wayfarer property. Medium ruby-purple in color, it has broody aromas of blood orange, iron, rhubarb and cranberry sauce with notes of dusty earth and dried herbs. The palate manages incredible intensity, lift and expansive flavor layers with a very long, juicy finish that continually calls you in for another sip!
95 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jun 2021)
Outstanding in muscular, dark fruit tones, this wine offers a substantial length and breadth of complexity. Weighty, it expands on the palate to reveal firm tannins and powerful lushness. The grapes were grown at a 1,100-foot elevation in cool, coastal conditions.
95 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2022)
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