Robb Report "Big Easy"

When Jayson Pahlmeyer left his career as a contract attorney to become a California vintner, his goal was to produce a world-class red wine in the tradition of the great Bordeaux. He successfully smuggled illegal French clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec into the United States. This minor crime brought major success: Pahlmeyer wines attract both high scores and collectors. But because the flagship wine is most often set in cellars for aging, Pahlmeyer decided in 1992 to produce a big yet approachable, easy-drinking second wine. The Jayson 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon displays essences of black cherry, espresso, bittersweet chocolate, and dried orange peel, as well as a luxurious texture that conceals its fine tannins.