2017 Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge
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The 2017 Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge is a two-barrel lot and also the smallest-production wine in the range. Fermenting in oak yields a Pinot built on texture and explosive richness. This is a pretty extroverted style for the Sonoma Coast, but it works beautifully. A rush of red cherry jam, chocolate, spice and new leather builds into the potent, layered finish. Racy, opulent and hedonistically seductive, the Paige's Ridge is a rock-star. I absolutely loved it.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2017 Pinot Noir Paige’s Ridge comes from 667 clone vines. Two barrels are hand-selected, so this is usually made with 100% new oak. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the nose is scented of crushed stone, moss, underbrush, oolong tea leaves, warm wild blackberries and black cherries with touches of dried flowers, tobacco and amaro. The medium-bodied palate is intense and layered, with earth, spicy fruits and oak character framed with lightly chalky tannins and juicy freshness, finishing very long and energetic. This has plenty of fruit to compete with the oak, but it will require more time in bottle to come together. 45 cases were made.
From a steep, east-facing parcel that's fermented in oak uprights and brought up all in new oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge (all clone 667) offers more upfront richness and depth as well as notes of cassis, black raspberries, spicy oak, and flowers. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and silky, it's another beautiful wine.