2018 Wayfarer Pinot Noir
The Traveler

Tasting Notes

The Traveler is exceptionally expressive in 2018 – the descriptors are seemingly endless. Strawberry and raspberry interplay with floral notes of rose and white flowers. Blood orange, roasted almonds and forest floor emerge as the wine continues to open in the glass. The palate is just as pleasing as the aromatics, with gorgeous floral notes and red fruits. The tannin is silky, and The Traveler’s signature finish remains long after the glass is empty.

Winemaking Notes

We hand-picked each block and delivered firm, cool clusters to the winery before sunrise. We then hand-sorted and destemmed the fruit before transferring to tank, where seven to ten days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The free run wine was transferred to 83% new French oak for 15 months of aging.

Vintage Notes

2018 was marked by a long and temperate growing season that allowed for an ideal harvest. The Pinot Noir vines began to emerge on March 31st. Annual rainfall was only 37.5 inches, 35% below average, however a large portion of this rain came in April. With spring rain filling the soil profile, the vines were able to thrive in the early growing season and continued to revel in moderate weather through May. Bloom occurred during the first days of June, and an idyllic summer allowed for a long ripening period. With high temperatures between 79 and 82 degrees throughout August, and a moderately cool September, we were able to pick precisely as the fruit reached phenolic ripeness, leading to wonderful tannin texture and exceptional aromatics.

Blocks

9, 18

Clones

Wayfarer

Critics

97 Points

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2020

"All destemmed and brought up 83% new French oak, the tiny production 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler is a gem of a wine that ranks with the top tier releases in the vintage. Made by Todd Kohn and all from the estate Wayfarer Vineyard, it offers a beautiful bouquet of ripe strawberries, framboise, white flowers, toasted spice, and pine/forest floor-like nuances. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with stunning tannins, a seamless texture, and flawless balance. It has a big core of sweet fruit (I'd guess Russian River blind) yet is just pure class, with nothing out of place and a great, great finish. It needs an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon, and it's going to evolve for a solid decade."

96 Points

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, April 2020

"The 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler is made from a blend of suitcase clones. It is also the most understated of the Pinots in this range. Sweet floral notes, spice, mint, earthiness, anise and blood orange all run through this super-expressive Pinot. Light on its feet and gracious, the Traveler has a lot to offer once it comes together a bit more fully. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding brightness."

95 Points

Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate, September 2020

"The 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler has a medium ruby color and slowly emerging scents of mushrooms, laurel, wet leaves, stewed tea, dried orange and cranberries. The medium-bodied palate is silky, soft and plush, packed with fruits, earth, spices and floral perfume, and it finishes very long."

Wine Data

Winemaker:
Todd Kohn
Origin:
Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Pruning:
Double guyot
Vine Yield:
3.3 pounds
Harvested:
September 28 - 29, 2018
Bottled:
December 19, 2019
Release:
April 2021
Composition:
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol:
14.4%
pH:
3.4
TA:
6.8 g/L
Cases Produced:
137

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