Fall 2026 Release Letter
FALL 2026 RELEASE
2024 Wayfarer Pinot Noir 'Golden Mean'
2024 Wayfarer Pinot Noir 'Mother Rock'
2024 Wayfarer Pinot Noir 'Paige's Ridge'
2024 Wayfarer Pinot Noir 'The Traveler'
2024 Wayfarer Chardonnay 'Cuvée Cleo'
Dear Friends,
Every vintage teaches us something new. 2024 was one where we learned to trust our decades of experience farming Wayfarer Vineyard.
2024 was an even, warm vintage marked by moderate rainfall and a steady, on-schedule growing season from bloom through harvest. A vintage with no drama – average on paper but extraordinary in the glass – allowed us to home in on getting the best from our vineyard.
The one departure from the ordinary was temperature. While peak temperatures throughout the season were warmer than average, nighttime temperatures dipped lower than usual – the greatest diurnal shift on record at Wayfarer. This pronounced daily temperature swing developed intense flavors, bringing great character and structure to the wines, while maintaining a vibrant core of acidity. More coastal wind than usual thickened the skins further, concentrating the vines' energy on the berries – deepening the nuance and density.
The result is a vintage that is open and generous now, yet built to age gracefully. Each wine is already showing its signature at a young age:
‘Golden Mean’ leads with delicate aromatics and velvety texture – it is feather light yet possesses great breadth and power.
‘Mother Rock’ is focused, dark, and refined with powdery tannins that add real depth, yet it remains silky and fresh on the palate.
‘Paige's Ridge’ is plush, polished, and charged with juicy acidity and a mineral, slate-like freshness.
‘The Traveler’ is complex and layered – with the supplest tannins of all the wines, and the most laser-focused acidity, giving it wonderful tension.
‘Cuvée Cleo’ is floral and fresh with a mineral sensation bursting through the weight and volume of the wine for a crystalline finish.
Thank you sincerely for your support.
Best Regards,
Cleo Pahlmeyer
