96pts Wine Independent

The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is a blend of all the clones. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, it prances out of the glass with fragrant notes of Bing cherries, fresh raspberries, and wild blueberries plus hints of red roses, cinnamon toast, and black tea. The medium to full-bodied palate has electric tension and impressive purity with very fine-grained tannins and a long vibrant finish.

96pts James Suckling

Very floral with hints of rose stems and hibiscus to the fresh ripe strawberry and citrus character. Medium to full body. Dried peach and orange peel flavors. Very long and intense. Lively at the end with lovely purity of fruit. Drink or hold.

95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate (previously labeled "Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard") has inviting aromas of cranberry sauce, mushroom, allspice and bitters. The palate's concentrated, nuanced fruit is structured by focused acidity and generous, powdery tannins, and it finishes with a flourish of spicy accents. It's drinking beautifully now and will develop savory complexity in bottle over the next decade.

94pts Jeb Dunnuck

A deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is ripe and layered with an attractive perfume of cardamom, pure wild raspberry, and fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it expands with good length and concentration, its pure fruit is seamless throughout, and it has a fresh spine of acidity. Offering a lovely balance of fruit and freshness, with ripe tannins and a rocky texture, it should be drunk 2024-2034.

93pts Wine Spectator

Offers showy raspberry and boysenberry puree notes that stream through, gilded liberally with anise, violet and hibiscus accents. Shows a sense of polish on the finish, though there's a good tug of structure at the very end as well.

93pts Vinous

The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is a terrific introduction to this range. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, mint and blood orange lend nuance to this very pretty, deep Pinot Noir from Wayfarer. In this tasting the Estate comes across as pretty tight, but it was only bottled a month ago, so I remain quite optimistic about its prospects.

Winemaker Notes

The 2021 Pinot Noir is pure and focused with brightness and stunning structure. On the nose, raspberry, tart cherry and cassis merge with notes of violets, orange spice and a burst of fresh basil. Fine, chalky tannins and hints of crushed cacao underlie the brilliant red fruits and florals. The density, complexity and persistent minerality of this wine lead into a finish that lasts and lasts. The 2021s will age gracefully for many years.