2017 Jason by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Jayson by Pahlmeyer follows the tradition of Pahlmeyer. Every vintage is meticulously made with the attention to detail for which Pahlmeyer is known and trusted.

Deep purple color in the glass. Displays classic varietal expression through an aromatic profile of intense floral notes, ripe blackberry, white pepper, and hints of leather and vanilla. On the dense, creamy palate, sweet plum, raspberry and ripe blueberry characters are accented by hints of cinnamon stick and brown sugar. A touch of earth contributes complexity over the long, luxurious finish.

Our mountain-grown cabernet sauvignon was harvested at night to deliver naturally cooled grapes to the winery by early morning. The whole clusters were gravity-fed onto a vibrating table where they were hand-sorted. The selected clusters were then gently de-stemmed, delivering whole berries onto a vibrating screen for a final hand sorting. After several days of cold maceration, the fruit entered primary fermentation for two to three weeks, was then gently pressed in our stainless steel basket. The wine finished malolactic fermentation in barrel, and aged in 90% new French oak for 17 months.

Once upon a time, there was a man with a bold, irrepressible spirit – a trial attorney called to the profession by its fast and furious nature. While successful in his career, a hypnotic captivation with wine soon eclipsed his legal ambitions. Was it destiny that Jayson Pahlmeyer’s world was turned happily upside down? Who can say?

Following his dream, Jayson partnered with the owner of a 55-acre site in south-east Napa Valley. The two shared a devotion to Jayson’s audacious dream of creating a “California Mouton,” and began imagining the vineyard’s potential. The key, they were sure, lay in planting the finest French clones of the red Bordeaux varieties – a considerable roadblock since importing clones is an international offense.

Jayson’s partner smuggled their “suitcase clones” to the U.S. through Canada. Planted in 1981, the French cuttings adjusted to their shock at a snail’s pace. Catching wind of these crazy guys and their Bordeaux vines, one of California’s foremost winemakers, Randy Dunn, visited the site and warned, “Don’t screw it up.” Clearly they didn’t because in 1986, seeing unparalleled promise, Randy asked to purchase the entire crop. Jayson agreed on one condition: that Randy make Jayson’s “Pahlmeyer” Napa Valley Bordeaux blend.