Wayfarer Pinot Noir — The Road to Take!
I recently opened a Pinot Noir that literally stopped me in my tracks. The sweet fruit aromas wafted from the glass and the flavors sailed on through the finish. The aromas and flavors were so compelling that it truly deserved my full attention. The finish sailed on for over a minute and left me really wanting more. It was truly beautiful. This Pinot Noir was a standout.
Wayfarer Vineyards is the baby of Jayson Pahlmeyer who truly has a passion for Burgundian wines. The vineyard itself was brought to Jayson’s attention by Helen Turley and planted by David Abreu. It is located in the Sonoma Coast hills less than five miles from the ocean and bears some gorgeous fruit. The proprietor of the winery now is Cleo Pahlmeyer, Jayson’s daughter.
Cleo herself is all in on the property and now leads the label to its future, taking the reins and bringing the first official Wayfarer label to life in 2014.
Just recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Cleo about the wine of Wayfarer. She is dedicated to the quality of the wine and takes great care to produce outstanding Pinot Noir. Cleo herself joined the family winery in 2008, learning the ropes side by side with some of the industry’s best. Her expertise rapidly grew out of her curiosity and eagerness to learn. She then became President of Pahlmeyer Wines in 2017. Cleo is precise in her speaking about wine and takes great joy in learning. Her mantra in learning is patience, curiosity and kindness to yourself. These are great qualities for lifelong growth and learning.
The vineyard itself is the heart of the wine. It is high on the remote ridges of the Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross- Seaview AVA at an altitude starting at 900 feet with sloping vineyards. The area receives an average of 60 inches of rain annually and the soil is 100% Goldridge. This soil is a combination of sand and clay. It is well draining soil which is a great asset for the vines to thrive. There are 30 acres of single blocks planted to a different clone. There are 12 different clones of Pinot Noir and four different clones of Chardonnay, which are planted to three different root stocks. The first vintages were released in 2012 under the Pahlmeyer label. It was in 2014 that the first Wayfarer label was introduced.
All this leads back to the wonderful Wayfarer Estate Pinot Noir that I enjoyed. It is lovely wine and well worth your time to buy and drink. Being stopped in my tracks by a sip of the Estate Pinot Noir was amazing. I enjoy great wine and this one was memorable. The family of Wayfarer Pinot includes five different bottlings with a beautiful expression to each. This is an opportunity to truly explore the breadth and depth of Pinot Noir.
Informal tastings can be set up at the office in downtown Napa. You must call ahead to make the arrangements. The phone number is (707) 244-1006. The Wayfarer Vineyard website offers access to the wine.
This is another view of the wine I drank that left me wanting another sip. The review is from Antonio Galloni who is the principal of the website Vinous:
“Wayfarer 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard , Fort Ross Seaview, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma: The 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard is bright, precise and wonderfully nuanced. Sweet red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mint give the 2018 striking inner sweetness and perfume. Pliant, silky and inviting, the 2018 has so much to offer. Even in the early going, the 2018 is a delicate, absolutely exquisite beauty.”
Enjoy!
