Wayfarer Fort Ross - Seaview Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2021

95 points                                                                                            Limited release from Pahlmeyer's new Sonoma Coast vineyard. 95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate (previously labeled "Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard") has inviting aromas of cranberry sauce, mushroom, allspice and bitters. The palate's concentrated, nuanced fruit is structured by focused acidity and generous, powdery tannins, and it finishes with a flourish of spicy accents. It's drinking beautifully now and will develop savory complexity in bottle over the next decade." 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "A deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is ripe and layered with an attractive perfume of cardamom, pure wild raspberry, and fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it expands with good length and concentration, its pure fruit is seamless throughout, and it has a fresh spine of acidity. Offering a lovely balance of fruit and freshness, with ripe tannins and a rocky texture, it should be drunk 2024-2034." "...One of the most impressive vineyard visits I’ve made this year was to the Wayfarer Vineyard in Sonoma Coast’s relatively newly formed Fort Ross-Seaview AVA (established in 2011). I cannot say that I’ve seen a happier looking vineyard in a long time, and by “happy” I refer to the immaculately trimmed, healthy, vivid green vines supporting well-balanced canopies and crop loads. And what a site! Apart from being incredibly remote, down a long, winding mountain road paved by gorgeous old redwoods and leading away from the Pacific Ocean, it’s perched fairly high in the mountains at about 1,100 feet. So, altitude and proximity to the ocean both have a cooling influence, which can be felt when you drive up from the warmer Sonoma plains. But don’t let the cool air fool you—this mountaintop vineyard is a real sun trap!"

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