Disclosure
St. Helena, California
Wine Style: New World / Cabernet & Chardonnay
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 96 points
Article Written: August 2014
Article Updated: May 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Jayson Pahlmeyer
Viticulturist:
Dave Wilson
Winemaker:
Kale Anderson
"When our first wine was finally blended, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.”
– Jayson Pahlmeyer
I can seriously agree with Jason’s statement above, because the first time I tried a Pahlmeyer wine, I also died and went to heaven. There is nothing better to end your day after a long hard day’s work than to sit down with one of Jayson’s red wines or chardonnay’s.
Given 94 points by Robert Parker, on the first release, the 1986 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red, launched Pahlmeyer’s track record of critical acclaim. The Jayson wine portfolio honors its namesake – Jayson Pahlmeyer, with wines created from declassified Pahlmeyer barrels. The concept of declassified wines began in Bordeaux in the 18th century as a means of using high-quality lots not chosen for a chateau’s premier wines. Following this tradition, all of the grapes for Jayson wines are grown and vinified by the same rigorous specifications required for Pahlmeyer wines. The Jayson lots are deselected just before bottling, resulting in wines of exceptional quality and value.
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| Pahlmeyer Winery / The Jayson Red Collection |
I first had a taste of a Pahlmeyer wine in 2004 and just fell in love with it. I was then re-introduced in 2009 when I signed up for a wine club through the Tasting Room at the Napa wine Company (now Ghost Block). Then I began to realize the true importance of what type of cult wine and following this vineyard had. I began reading a James Patterson Book called “First to Die,” and while in Napa Valley, a couple is being driven to The French Laundry for dinner, and they are enjoying a bottle of the Jayson Chardonnay. If I would not have known of the wine or had ordered it in the past, the name would have just been part of the story, and I would have forgotten it a few pages later, but I read that book four years ago, and it is still remembered. In the end, this is a wine that needs to be added to your portfolio collection, because they just keep getting better and better year after year. In fact, the producers for the movie Disclosure starring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas were eating at Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills and were served a bottle of Pahlmeyer’s 1991 Chardonnay based on the sommelier’s recommendation. They fell in love with wine and as a result, it was used in a scene in the movie which ended up being the perfect marketing the wine. Even today, the winery still receives phone calls about the wine when Disclosure shows up on prime time television.
Pahlmeyer has expanded and no longer produces or sells its wine at the Napa Wine Company now owned by Ghost Block, and moved up to Atlas Peak and Sonoma County for further production for. Napa is full of great wines like the Pahlmeyer vineyards and their red blend tops the charts of one of the more enjoyable. I would compare their red blend to the Elevation 393 by Sijnn Wines in Stellenbosch, South Africa, another red blend style to Jayson that was out of this world.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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Jayson Red Blend 2010
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Winemaker Notes:
Aromas of ripe bing cherry, plum, and fresh-roasted espresso beans echo in the wine's rich, dark flavors.
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Winemaker Notes:
An earthy minerality lends intriguing complexity before the mouth-feel softens to silky tannins on the finish.
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Chardonnay 2012
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Winemaker Notes:
Aromas of ripe peach and summer flowers, layered with wisps of creamy lemon oil, leap out of the glass.
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Winemaker Notes:
The wine’s smooth, rich viscosity and superfine minerality carry sophisticated notes of white nectarine, pear, and honeysuckle across the palette. The lingering finish reveals flavors end with light caramel, hazelnut, and hints of Key lime zest.
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A selection of Pahlmeyer wines is available for tasting at Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in Yountville.
Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Overall Star Rating For Pahlmeyer Wines:
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96/100:
An Extraordinary Tasting Experience
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Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
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95/100 on the 2012 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay
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90/100 on the 2010 Jayson Red
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95/100 on the 2011 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
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Wines Produced by Pahlmeyer Wines:
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir Red Blend, Bordeaux Blend (aka Meritage), & Petit Verdot
White: Chardonnay
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Grape Blends:
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Red:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
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Barrel Types and Aging:
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50-85% French oak in Taransaud and St. Martin barrels, for 11-18 months.
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Sub-Sonoma AVA’s:
Other California wines, wineries (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants in Napa County, California
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
Castello di Amorosa Tuscan inspired castle with wine — friends of the Baron - Calistoga, Napa, California
Chateau Montelena The famed Bottle Shock “Judgement of Paris” winner in Calistoga, California
Crocker and Star Wine Tasting Capturing the essence of Cabernet in St Helena, California
Emmolo Wine Tasting A merlot comparable to no other in Rutherford, California
Flying Horse Wine Tasting A spirited winery with Arabian horses in Oakville, California
Gustavo Winery Artisan winemaker whose story is tied to “The Judgement of Paris” in Napa, California
Hoopes Winery Tasting Cult cabernet winemaker with Liparita and Hoopes labels in Oakville, California
Jonata Winery Tasting Screaming Eagles sister winery, El Desafio cab, in Santa Barbara, California
Kamen Estates Low yield, high quality + film writing in Sonoma, California
Ma(i)sonry Wine Tasting An aesthetic portfolio of wines in Yountville, California
Mirror Wine Tasting A beautiful Cabernet from a family of entrepreneurs in St Helena, California
Ottimino Winery Exclusive red Zinfandel producer partnered with William Knuttel in Sonoma, California
Row 11 Santa Maria Pinot An Old World style Pinot from Santa Maria, California
Row 11 Tasting Pinot grapes using Dijon clones in Santa Maria, California
Silver Oak Cellars Near the Silverado Trail, known for high-end Cabernet in Oakville, California
Twomey Wine Tasting Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak, Calistoga, Napa California
Volker Eisele Wine Tasting An elegant family estate in the Chiles Valley district of St Helena, California
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ciccio Cali inspired cuisine from California using antibiotic-free meats, organic and Non-GMO vegetables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop “aka” Cowgirl Cantina in Point Reyes Station, California
FarmTable Cucina organic, sustainable, and local with a focus on Italian and New American themes in St. Petersburg, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now GateHouse in Calistoga, California
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State,Virginia),Thailand, and Uruguay.
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Yearly tasting event at Hyde Park
Sydney, Australia
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Wine and food tour
Cape Town, South Africa
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A tour of food and wine from a 2015 tour in Oregon wine country
Dundee, Willamette, Oregon
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Some Old World Favorites:
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. These countries include Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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Wine tours and restaurants
Bordeaux, France
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A tasting of the Vougeot AOC, caves, and the Hospices de Beaune
Burgundy, France
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Sancerre wines
Loire Valley, France
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine-producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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Jayson Red (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRR
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Chardonnay (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Cost of Wine Tasting (p/p):
Premier flight: $35.00
Pahlmeyer Wines:
811 St. Helena Highway South,
Suite 202
St. Helena, California 94574
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+01(707) 255-2321
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Email:
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Tasting Room Hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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A selection of Pahlmeyer wines is available for tasting at Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in Yountville. Please contact to request a reservation:
Sunday – Thursday
11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Friday – Saturday
10:30 am – 6:30 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Pahlmeyer Wines:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Impeccably prepared French fine dining
Dublin, Ireland
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Countryside French Bistro
Cheverny, France
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New American dining on a restored ship
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Other Pahlmeyer Wine Pictures:
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| Pahlmeyer Winery / Chardonnay |
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
