2018 Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir The Traveler
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From vine cuttings that travelled across the Atlantic, this is supposedly the most vibrant Pinot Noir. Hand-picked clusters delivered to the winery before sunrise. Fruit hand-sorted and destemmed before transfer to tank where five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% ambient-yeast fermentation. The free-run wine was transferred to French oak (two-thirds new) for 15 months. Mid crimson. Interesting and very pure nose. Really very fine. Great texture – smooth at first and then real framework – and energy. Pretty damn smart and sophisticated. Appetising! (JR)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler has a medium ruby color and slowly emerging scents of mushrooms, laurel, wet leaves, stewed tea, dried orange and cranberries. The medium-bodied palate is silky, soft and plush, packed with fruits, earth, spices and floral perfume, and it finishes very long.
All destemmed and brought up 83% new French oak, the tiny production 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler is a gem of a wine that ranks with the top tier releases in the vintage. Made by Todd Kohn and all from the estate Wayfarer Vineyard, it offers a beautiful bouquet of ripe strawberries, framboise, white flowers, toasted spice, and pine/forest floor-like nuances. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with stunning tannins, a seamless texture, and flawless balance. It has a big core of sweet fruit (I'd guess Russian River blind) yet is just pure class, with nothing out of place and a great, great finish. It needs an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon, and it's going to evolve for a solid decade.
The 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler is made from a blend of suitcase clones. It is also the most understated of the Pinots in this range. Sweet floral notes, spice, mint, earthiness, anise and blood orange all run through this super-expressive Pinot. Light on its feet and gracious, the Traveler has a lot to offer once it comes together a bit more fully. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding brightness.