2016 Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir Golden Mean
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Golden Mean is a blend of Pommard and Swan clone Pinot, with Swan driving the wine's aromatic brilliance and lift. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and mint are all beautifully lifted in the glass. In 2016, the Golden Mean was done with fully destemmed fruit, an approach that worked spectacularly well. Regal and elegant in every aspect, the Golden Mean is a winner from Wayfarer.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From Pommard and Swan clones with zero whole cluster this year, the 2016 Pinot Noir Golden Mean is medium ruby-purple colored and sings of kirsch, mulberries, black cherries and cranberries with touches of cinnamon stick, red roses, black pepper and black tea plus a waft of mossy bark. Medium-bodied, the palate has beautiful tension with a firm frame of grainy tannins and tons of red and black fruit layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note.
The 2016 Pinot Noir Golden Mean comes mostly from the Swan clone yet includes plenty of Pommard as well. The cuvée comes from two parcels in the estate vineyard, is cofermented (with around 10% whole cluster), and spent15 months in 67% new French oak. It offers a more black fruited style with a huge nose of black cherries, scorched earth, charcoal, and just a hint of exotic flowers. Medium-bodied, rich, and structured, it’s another wine that builds with time in the glass. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade. The big news at Wayfarer is the moving on of star winemaker Bibiana González Rave to focus on her own label and assistant winemaker Todd Kohn taking over the helm. Todd has been with Wayfarer since 2013 and certainly, along with Cleo Pahlmeyer, the vineyard and estate are in talented hand. All these 2016s were made by Bibiana, and as the notes and scores show, they’re truly sensational, world class wines.