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Pahlmeyer's Wayfarer Wines
Friday, April 22nd, 2022
 "I referenced La Tâche more than once in these reviews, and I don’t make that comparison lightly. These are brilliant wines." -Jeb Dunnuck
Dear friends,

This Friday Fill-Up highlights the Wayfarer wines again before they're gone.

You might already have the 'greats' in your cellar:

DuMOL, Sea Smoke, Rhys, ROAR, Pisoni, Kosta Browne, Selyem, Littorai, Aubert, Marcassin, Littorai, Occidental, Paul Lato, Rochioli... am I forgetting someone?

Point is, I know you've 'been there, done that', and don't 'need' anymore Pinot.

But if you haven't tried Wayfarer yet, you owe it to yourself to complete your quest.

We have three of Jayson Pahlmeyer's Sonoma Coast stunners available today, We start with his 2018 Wayfarer Fort Ross Seaview Pinot Noir, but make sure you scroll all the way down to see his WF2 second label, which just is probably the year's best Sonoma Coast Pinot sub $50.

(Click on images for their product links)
Wayfarer Pinot Noir "Wayfarer Vineyard" 2018
(Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast)

It doesn't make sense that Jayson Pahlmeyer's current passion project is seemingly under-the-radar. But let's not question it—if we do, they'll become expensive, allocated, and unavailable.

  • In the 70s Wayfarer off-the-grid organic farm supplied Alice Waters' Chez Panisse


  • The farm was up for sale in '98. Helen Turley quickly took notice and told her good friend Jayson Pahlmeyer to buy it. Her own vineyard, Marcassin, was next door. (Cult wine between $300-800, if you can even get any)


  • In '02, David Abreu would plant Pinot and Chard in what is still the only Sonoma vineyard he's ever done. (He's usually planting vineyards for Screaming Eagle, Harlan, stuff like that)


  • In 2005 Jayson Pahlmeyer would blend Wayfarer with RRV fruit to bottle Pahlmeyer Pinots. They were pretty massive during that time. The Pahlmeyer name/winery then sold in '19.


  • From 2012 to 2018. bad-ass winemaker Bibiana Gonzales Rave-Pisoni (yes, she married a Pisoni) would refine them into the gorgeous Wayfarer wines they are today.

98+ Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"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. (Drink between 2020-2030)"

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard was just about completely destemmed and spent 15 months in 58% new French oak. This deeper ruby/purple-hued effort offers an awesome bouquet of black raspberries, scorched earth, toasted spices, and flowery incense. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, and a stunning effort. It also happens to be made in terrific quantities, with just over 1,600 cases produced. Bravo!"

94 Points - Vinous:
"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. (Drink between 2023-2033)" -Antonio Galloni (4/20)

$89.97 btl
The Pinot glorious, but GOOD LORD their 2019 Chard is brilliant.

Imagine DuMOL with tons of Sonoma Coast saltiness.
Or Montrachet / Corton Charlemagne by the sea??

Kistler who? Aubert what? Peter whatshisname... Michael?

👆 I'm joking, of course, but I'm not kidding about how great this is. 👇
Wayfarer Chardonnay "Wayfarer Vineyard" 2019
(Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast)

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"A beautiful, Burgundian nose of orchard fruits, white flowers, chalky minerality, and honeysuckle emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay Wayfarer Vineyard, a riveting, pure, flawlessly balanced Chardonnay that shines on all accounts. Picking up a kiss of green almond and toast with time in the glass, it has beautifully integrated acidity, a layered, rich yet light on its feet mouthfeel, and a great finish. This is just about as good as it gets in 2019 with regards to Chardonnay. Give bottles a year or two in the cellar and enjoy through 2032." (7/21)

95 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"The 2019 Chardonnay Wayfarer Vineyard is open and gregarious, with scents of yellow peach, jasmine, honeycomb, almond and touches of struck flint. The full-bodied palate is satiny and packed with lush, perfumed fruits, and it offers generous honey, nutty tones on the very long finish. The fruit for this bottling comes from four different clones planted on the Wayfarer property."

$89.97 btl
But wait. There's more.

Almost half the price, but definitely not half the quality.

Wayfarer "WF2" Pinot Noir 2019
(Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast, California)

Wayfarer WF2 wines are limited production, high quality and value driven. Fresh and vibrant yet richly textured, they capture the West Sonoma Coast in all its glory. These wines are inspired by the age old question of what to open on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday—you know you will have a great glass of wine every time you reach for a bottle of WF2.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Cases Produced: 600

Boysenberry and cherry leap from the glass, with rose petal in their wake. The wine is seductive on the palate, with great density balanced by tart cranberry. A hallmark of coastal Pinot Noir, this vibrant tension lingers on the finish.

$49.97 btl
These normally are not for retailers and exclusive to restaurants I can only afford to dine at once a year.

Only a few cases of each are left.

Cheers!
—James
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