The Pahlmeyer Estate has been a fixture in Napa Valley since its first release in 1986. A former trial lawyer, Jayson Pahlmeyer, set out to create a “California Mouton” in Napa Valley. He traveled to France using the great wines of Bordeaux as his guide to what eventually would become the Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red. This new wine quickly became a favorite of Robert Parker, earning an impressive 94 pts for the inaugural release, setting the bar to be improved. Over the next 25 years the wine would go on to earn countless other accolades including a perfect score in 2016.
Fourteen years after the original launch of Pahlmeyer, Jayson by Pahlmeyer was created as a new expression of wine from Napa Valley. Rebranded today simply as Jayson, the range has expanded from the Red Blend to include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, and a 100% Cabernet. Utilizing non estate fruit allows the winemaking team to craft incredibly high-quality wine at a price that is less than half what the estate wines sell for.
Jayson 2020 Chardonnay and Cabernet make for the quintessential pair. The Chardonnay is layered and dynamic. The mountain fruit of our Pahlmeyer vineyards contributes intensity and crisp acidity, while our lower-elevation blocks offer freshness, tropical notes, and lovely aromatic lift. While the Cabernet 2018 is dark and expressive, that opens with aromas and notes of wild blackberries, anise, and Italian Castelvetrano olive. Youthful upon release, the wine’s firm tannins will soften over time, whether in the cellar or while swirling in your decanter or glass. Patience rewards as a plush, juicy mid-palate is revealed, confidently leading to the lengthy finish that hints at blueberry jam and warm vanilla. Decant the Cab while enjoying the Chard to create a perfect evening with some grilled shrimp and steaks in the backyard.
Jayson Red Blend 2018 is really where the line shines. A Merlot forward blend of Bordeaux varieties that offers bright, fresh-picked fruit notes, as notes of dark plum, raspberry, and black currant weave playfully with hints of smooth caramel and butterscotch that linger on the finish. Velvety, expansive, and deeply expressive, this is a Merlot-based blend at its fullest potential. Crafted from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards, to express intensity and richness. The wine was then racked to 35% new French oak barrels for 16 months of aging. And for those that believe points make a wine taste better, this one was given 95 of them.
