2016 Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge is Clone 667 Pinot fermented in oak, which gives the wine soft curves and a level of voluptuousness that is not present in most of the other wines in this range. Dark cherry and plum fruit are nicely pushed forward. Overall, the Paige's Ridge is built on fruit intensity rather than nuance.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From a single block fermented in an oak cuve, the medium ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Paige’s Ridge offers up a flamboyant nose of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and chocolate box with fragrant touches of violets, star anise, oolong tea and lavender. Medium to full-bodied, rich and super intense in the mouth, it has a firm frame of very fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long.
From a single block and single clone (clone 667), the 2016 Pinot Noir Paige's Ridge is the tiniest production cuvée with only 40 cases made. Completely destemmed and brought up in just 50% new French oak, it offers more richness and flesh, with lots of cassis, toasted spice, black raspberries, and candied flowers. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly textured and perfectly balanced, it’s another extraordinary Pinot Noir from this great site and great winemaker. 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.