Jayson by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 94] [JS 94] [WS 93] [WE 93]

About Jayson:
Jayson wines are born from two of the most renowned winegrowing regions in the world – the iconic Napa Valley and the pioneering Sonoma Coast. Every vintage is meticulously made with the attention to detail for which Pahlmeyer is known and trusted, while capturing the spirit of its founder whose huge personality, humor and joy for living are an integral part of the Pahlmeyer legacy.

Notes from the Winemaker:
There’s a luxurious texture I aim for with our Jayson Cabernet, selecting blocks of our mountain fruit that deliver concentration and intensity while possessing plush fruit and a polished tannin profile. I blend these with rich, round fruit from the Rutherford valley floor and Atlas Peak foothills – the perfect balance of grip and juiciness. I’ll age Jayson Cabernet for about 15 months in 80% new Taransaud heavy toast oak to build on that incredible mouthfeel and structure, match our tannin profile, and support our signature intensity. - Katie Vogt

Vintage Notes:

2021 was a remarkable growing year. All of our vineyards expressed themselves in their purest form. There was a lot of distinct character, block to block, which allowed us to create truly unique, interesting, and compelling wines. An arid year resulted in meager yields throughout our vineyards, fewer clusters, and tiny berries giving us gorgeous concentration. While it was an early vintage, gentle weather throughout the growing season allowed the vineyards to develop steadily and fully, resulting in intense, complex fruit. The berries retained naturally high acidity levels, and with low yields and small berries, they achieved a concentrated tannin profile. That ideal combination of acidity and tannin – with a pure, powerful fruit core – indicates this will be an age-worthy vintage.

Varietal Composition: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot

Ageing: Aged 15 months in 72% new Taransaud barrels, 28% one-year-used Pahlmeyer Merlot and Proprietary Red barrels

Tasting Notes:

Classic Napa Valley Cabernet aromas of ripe blackberry and red currant are underpinned by an alluring dark forest floor earthiness and a high note of red licorice/candy shop. Valley floor fruit brings mouth-filling plushness to the palate, while concentrated mountain fruit drives through the core. Focused black fruit –cherry, plum, and raspberry –surge long and deep with hints of black olive and freshly cracked pepper. Polished tannins frame and lengthen the palate as a balancing acidity provides a magnifying lift. The finish is long, juicy, and plush with a thrust of grippy tannin, persisting with notes of vanilla bean, warm spice, and toasted hazelnut. –Katie Vogt

Our Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested at night to deliver naturally cooled grapes to the winery. Whole clusters were gravity-fed onto a vibrating table for hand sorting. Selected clusters were gently de-stemmed, delivering whole berries for a final hand sorting. After several days of cold maceration, the fruit entered primary fermentation for two to three weeks, then gently pressed in our stainless-steel basket.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
15.1% ABV
15 months in 88% new French oak barrels.

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A seamless, balanced, classic Napa Cabernet with ample fruit weight balanced by a cooling freshness. Leads with red berry fruit laced with tobacco, cassis, cedar and sagebrush. A dusty tannin backbone with hints of chocolate and baking spices built to a toasty finish that grows bright with crushed purple florals. So inviting. Grape sources are William Hill in Napa, Stagecoach, Waters, Round Pond in Rutherford and Sun Lake in Pope Valley, along with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the iconic Monte Rosso vineyard in Sonoma. It is aged 16 months in 72% new French oak." Drink 2024-2030. - Jonathan Cristaldi (Nov 2023)

94 Points - James Suckling:
"So creamy, chocolatey and layered despite full tannins and a full body, this is a rich, oak-spiced and saturated, classic Napa cabernet. Aged in 70% new French barrels for 15 months, it offers black cherries and blackberries with vanilla bean, cocoa, cassis and toasted walnut accents. A big wine that’s drinkable now with a rich protein. Best from 2028." (Aug 2024)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Frankly ripe, offering an enticing gush of açaí, blackberry and black currant compote notes that roll through, carried by warm humus, licorice root and singed alder notes. A muscular style, this is defined, with subtle, latent energy through the finish. Best from 2025 through 2037. 6,160 cases made." - James Molesworth (June 2024)

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Juicy and full of flavor, this savory Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend brings together all five Bordeaux varieties for a complete and mouthwatering wine. Flavors of ripe black fruits and bramble combine with tobacco and herbs for a lengthy and enticing wine." - ECB (Dec 2024)