Pahlmeyer, 'Jayson' Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, 2021

Overview of the Wine
Pahlmeyer was founded in 1986, by a desire to be great by its eponymous creator Jayson Pahlmeyer. With a dream to create a California Mouton, Jayson and his partners spared no resource to make this dream a reality. Whether it was finding the perfect piece of land high atop Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak or covertly smuggling in Bordeaux cuttings, all pieces of Pahlmeyer’s history have led to its place as one of the top brand names from Napa Valley. From the very beginning, Pahlmeyer has been dedicated to crafting fine wines from the best fruit sources possible. In California, this means high elevation mountain sites, where the grapes are afforded more sunlight, cooler temperatures, and less fertile soils, which together create ideal conditions. Pahlmeyer sources the majority of their fruit from four key locations: Pahlmeyer Estate (Atlas Peak), Stagecoach (Atlas Peak / Pritchard Hill), Rancho Chimiles, and Antica.

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
2021 Jayson Chardonnay offers a captivating interplay of richness and finesse, with a soulful complexity revealing itself with each sip. The nose is greeted with aromas of orange blossom and honeysuckle, lemon oil, and crushed Marcona almond. Notes of preserved Meyer lemon introduce the bright, finely detailed palate, the integrated oak profile lending a complementing mid-palate richness. Interwoven notes of butterscotch, marzipan, and grilled pineapple slowly emerge and sustain through a long, layered finish.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
This classic, proven style of toasty but balanced Chardonnay will be perfect for a dinner party. It is dry, appetizing and just rich enough in texture to pair with grilled fish, roast chicken, even steak. Savoring on its own brings out a creamy, layered palate of poached pears and vanilla bean.

93 Points - James Suckling
Sliced cooked apple with some apple puree and apple blossom as well as lemon rind on the nose. Medium-bodied with creamy texture. Flint and mineral flavors. Good acidity and energy. Hints of fresh straw underneath.

92 Points - Wine Spectator
Rich and bold up front, offering plenty of honeysuckle and spice notes. A drizzle of wildflower honey and a toast detail complement flavors of apricot pastry, candied ginger and marmalade, while a fresh thread of acidity runs throughout, keeping the flavors juicy and in focus on the creamy frame. Drink now through 2033. 4,422 cases made.

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pahlmeyer's 2021 Jayson Chardonnay is nicely balanced, in a restrained, sedate format, with subtle nutty and creamy notes set against oak spice, white peaches and ripe pineapple. Primarily a selection of barrels that didn't make the cut for the top bottlings, it's medium to full-bodied, round and generous in the mouth; it's just lacking a bit of intensity and length. It's still an excellent wine.

Product size: 750ml