Wayfarer Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir 2021

98 Points - limited                                             New Sonoma Coast releases from Pahlmeyer - limited. 98 Points Robert Parker: "The 2021 Chardonnay The Estate is delightfully decadent and almost feels like a guilty pleasure—it's so packed with flavor! It has gregarious aromatic layers of warm peach, summer honey, candied citrus and wafts of allspice. The medium-bodied palate is luxuriously satiny and features expansive, concentrated flavors. Despite its generosity, it maintains balance with bright acidity, and it has an epically long finish." 96+ Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Revealing a medium straw hue with youthful green highlights, the 2021 Chardonnay The Estate offers gorgeous, fresh, floral aromas of lemon curd, pastry cream, cheese rind, sweet baking spices, and ripe pear. With fresh acidity, medium body, ample ripe fruit, and a sound structure, it’s fresh and long on the palate, with well-balanced richness that also feels decadent. Drink 2024-2035." Cleo Pahlmeyer, daughter of Napa Valley's Jayson Pahlmeyer, came up with the idea of produce a stand-alone brand from the Wayfarer Vineyard on the Sonoma coast in 2012.  According to the St. Helena Star, "then-Pahlmeyer winemaker Helen Turley had called the property the destined 'La Tache of California,' referring to the blessed grand cru in Burgundy."  Pahlmeyer teamed up with winemaker Bibiana González Rave, formerly of Lynmar, on this project. The Star: "Indeed, the 2013 Wayfarer Vineyard Chardonnay has well-integrated oak nuances, with toastiness on the nose that expresses itself more as a complex, rich mouth feel on the palate. Pahlmeyer explained that the medium toast of the barrels used is key to maintaining balanced flavor; a heavier toast is not desired. The 2012 Wayfarer chardonnay ages in 65 percent new French oak

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