United States · California

Pahlmeyer

Pahlmeyer, founded by attorney Jayson Pahlmeyer in 1986 with winemakers Randy Dunn and later Helen Turley, quickly became one of Napa Valley's benchmark luxury producers. The Proprietary Red—a Bordeaux-style blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa hillside sources—and the Chardonnay defined Pahlmeyer's reputation in the 1990s when Turley's winemaking drove consistent 95+ point scores. With 1,044 lots averaging $123 per bottle and a ceiling of $752, Pahlmeyer occupies a solid collector tier. The 2005 vintage is the top auction year. The Jayson Red and Jayson Pinot Noir are second-label bottlings that trade below $100. The Piece de Resistance—a rare limited release of the estate's finest barrels—commands the highest auction prices. Current winemaking under Erin Green continues the refined, site-focused approach while moderating the ultra-ripe style of the Turley era, producing wines with improved freshness and definition. The estate's Atlas Peak hillside vineyard provides structured, mineral-inflected fruit that distinguishes the Proprietary Red from typical valley-floor Napa blends.