| Producer |
Pahlmeyer
: When the only dream one has assaults every waking minute and is such a force that it becomes a hypnotic captivation, the passion and desire to fulfill that dream must be undaunted. When that dream is ripped from outstretched arms, the individual can fight or take flight. Drive and determination is what allowed Jayson Pahlmeyer’s dream to become reality.
Pahlmeyer’s insatiable thirst for adventure and his yearning to create a “California Mouton,” in the northern part of the Golden State, his native soil, which he believed to hold tremendous winegrowing potential, led him on an arduous journey. He partnered with the owner of a 55-acre site in Napa Valley, who shared the same dream of producing a California First Growth. The key was planting the finest French clones of Bordeaux varietals, which created a roadblock since importing clones is an international offense.
Pahlmeyer would then spend a considerable amount of time researching the finest French vineyards in order to locate an exact match needed to plant the clones in their California soil. Soil samples were tested by viticultural professors at the University of Bordeaux, who analyzed exposure, rainfall, and temperature data. The professional recommendation was for them to plant corn on their Napa property.
Undaunted, Pahlmeyer and his partner’s persistence finally paid off three years later when the professors located the exact Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec vines with the greatest ability of being successful. The vines were of great intensity, depth of flavor and character. With the clones acquired and smuggled into the US through the Canadian border, his dream was close to coming to fruition.
The clones were planted in 1981, but the French cuttings were slow to adjust to the soil. Randy Dunn (widely recognized for his “no nonsense” approach to winemaking), caught wind of the operation and visited the site and warned them, “Don’t screw it up.” They didn’t and in 1986 Dunn approached them about buying their entire crop. An agreement was made and Dunn would make Jayson’s “Pahlmeyer” Napa Velley Bordeaux blend. That 1986 vintage achieved a 94-point score by Robert Parker and a legend was born.
Success comes with the willingness to accept advice and sometimes criticism. Over the years Pahlmeyer would be guided by some of the Napa Valley greats from Dunn to Bob Levy, and on to Helen Turley. Turley urged Pahlmeyer to push quality to even greater heights by developing estate vineyards and was instrumental in finding his high-elevation Napa Valley estate vineyard in 1988. The vineyards, situated on the ridge of Atlas Peak were planted to red Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay that same year. David Abreu was hired to develop the land and Turley was a large contributor to its success. Pahlmeyer states that Helen Turley told him, “If you want to be a first-growth, you have to have your own vineyards.”
And so… Pahlmeyer’s dream of creating an iconic Bordeaux blend in the soils of California became reality. His Proprietary Red, Chardonnay and Merlot are highly sought after and are creations of sheer determination and excellence.
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