Eyrie Daphne Vineyard Pinot noir 2018

Eyrie Daphne Vineyard Pinot noir 2018

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99 points Wine Advocate: "You know you've encountered a world-class wine when you struggle to find the words to describe it, and the 2018 Pinot Noir Daphne, from vines planted in 1974, leaves me speechless! Pale ruby in the glass, it has singular aromas of wild berries, grapefruit and orange peel, aniseed, cracked pepper, tea leaves and floral potpourri. Highly concentrated and perfumed yet weightless in the mouth, the Daphne is bursting with fireworks of refreshing acidity, and it boasts a finish that goes on and on. It's one of the very best Pinot Noirs from the 2018 vintage in the Willamette Valley."

2019 vintage notes

97 points Wine Advocate: "The 2019 Pinot Noir Daphne is juicy, highly aromatic and irresistible! Medium ruby, it has pure scents of raspberry and strawberry preserves, tangerine peel, Earl Grey tea leaves, star anise and tar. Light-bodied with powdery tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, it features perfumed, crunchy red fruit and detailed floral and spice accents that fan across the finish."

It’s impossible to contain my enthusiasm for this vineyard. My first “ah-hah!” moment occurred with the 2009 Daphne (at the time, only the second bottling ever of a Daphne designate). After all other wines came and went, it was tied for my wine of the entire vintage (Thomas ‘09 sharing the crown).

Daphne Vineyard is the second oldest (planted in 1974) and highest elevation (890 feet) Eyrie vineyard. It is exposed, cold and windy, the soil is extremely shallow. The vines are almost bonsai-like and stripped of bark because of the harsh environment (see below); the clusters they produce are tiny. The stressed conditions breed a unique and awesome wine. A glowing orb of energy, Daphne's brilliance radiates outward, packed with so much intensity of aroma and flavor. Rose-accented red, blue, and purple tones, exotic spices, surprisingly overt and showy already yet with a 15-20 year cellar life ahead of it. -Marcus

96 points Vinous Media: "Mineral-accented red and blue fruits, spice and floral qualities on the expansive nose along with hints of incense and musky sassafras. Bitter cherry, raspberry and boysenberry flavors show fine detail and turn deeper and sweeter as the wine opens up. Fine-grained, even tannins frame a strikingly long spicy finish that emphatically echoes the red fruit and floral notes." 

Below: Jason Lett in Daphne Vineyard, the bonsai-like vines of Daphne

Make sure you always get a discount by using our Build a Case® program. 

How it works:

If you haven't found a full case (12 bottles) to buy today, start your Build a Case® order now by purchasing a few bottles online, by phone or email. If you order online, select the Build a Case® option. If by phone or email, just ask us to add the bottles to a Build a Case® order for you. You'll receive order confirmation and we'll cellar the wines for you at no charge.

Add to your case whenever you see wines you can't resist. Each time you add to your Build a Case® order you'll be charged the discounted price.

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Build a Case® 

Make sure you always get a discount by using Build a Case® How it works:

If you haven't found a full case (12 bottles) to buy today, start your Build a Case®  now by purchasing a few bottles online, by phone or email. If you order online, select the Build a Case®  option. If by phone or email, just ask us to add the bottles to a Build a Case®  for you. You'll receive order confirmation and we'll cellar the wines for you until you reach a full case.

Our Wine Advice

Life's too short to drink bad wine.

We taste as much or more Oregon wine in a given year than anyone on the planet. We look for the needles in the haystacks, the wines you won't find in your local wine store. Wineries have long sought our help to sell their most limited, unique bottlings.

We are picky. We like to sell wines that we like to drink. We refer to taste the wines sell over several days; we want to know how a wine will evolve, how it pairs with food. We want to know if it truly belongs in your cellar, in your glass, and we want to provide you with guidance on how and when it'll be its best.

Our goal is to describe wines in ways that you can actually relate to. We battle against overly flowery tasting notes. You know the kind. The ones that mention things that no one has ever smelled or tasted. They're mostly B.S. and they perpetuate snobbery that we don't like.

We give you the unfiltered truth about a wine.We believe wine isn't one-size-fits-all. We get to know your tastes and preferences so that we can recommend the right wines for you.

Testimonials

★★★★★

Avalon is a gem. The wine selection is both excellent and expertly curated. Better yet, Marcus and Andy invest the time to get to know their customers personally. So their recommendations fit you like a well-tailored suit (just more reasonably priced!).

Sam P.
★★★★★

Marcus and Andy's knowledge of the wines, wineries and winemakers of the area is encyclopedic and, in my experience, second to none. They have a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of the industry and a knack for recommending wines that are 'in my wheelhouse,' but also the insight to direct me toward new discoveries. I wholeheartedly recommend them to both those in the know and those who would
like to be.

Bob S.
★★★★★

Andy and Marcus only sell wines they would drink themselves, they sell them at reasonable prices, and they take exceptionally good care of their customers. Ethics, value, service…the reasons we buy all our wine from Avalon.

Lynne M.
★★★★★

These guys do an outstanding job of sourcing great wines at terrific prices. Their reviews are fun to read and quite on point without all of the nonsense. Whose ever tasted squirrel dung or asphalt anyway? Get on their email list and savor the experience; then tell a friend. That's how I became a dedicated customer of Avalon Wine.

Karl K.