“Lewis Rodgers Lane is an attempt to capture our vineyard in a glass,“ says winemaker Brad McLeroy. “If our vineyard could speak, this bottle is what it would say. It’s a blend of all five Pinot Noir clones in our estate vineyard; it highlights what mother nature gave us in the vintage. It is elegant and rich, with a dark fruit profile, subtle spice & earth, and a long finish.”
“It may do the best job of expressing our full site, since we get to blend. It can lead to the better aromatics and more complexities. We don’t use much new oak; we want the great terroir of Ribbon Ridge to speak more loudly than the barrel.”
The Ayres philosophy: "We believe our wine has a soul. We believe our wine gives voice to the soil. We believe that our wine guides us as much as we guide our wine. It’s about reciprocity. It’s a relationship that begins in the vineyard, from the first sign of bud break to the last cluster harvested.
2016 vintage notes
93 points Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Pinot Noir Lewis Rogers Lane is scented of crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with loads of spicy accents like lilac, cardamom, tree bark and potpourri. Light to medium-bodied, it has a great concentration of spice-laced ripe black fruits in the mouth, with a good frame of grainy tannins and juicy, mouthwatering acidity, finishing on a perfumed dusty earth note. 251 cases produced."
2015 vintage notes
93+ points Wine Advocate: "...the 2015 Pinot Noir Lewis Rogers Lane explodes with the most gorgeous fragrance of roses and cinnamon stick with a core of red cherries, pomegranate and violets, plus a waft of fungi. Medium-bodied, it delivers wonderful vibrancy and depth with satiny tannins and a very long, refreshing finish."
Ayres continues to knock it out of the park. Once again, our favorite bottling within their line-up is Lewis Rodgers Lane, named for the road on which the winery and vineyard are located. Estate grown, Ribbon Ridge Pinot noir, this delicious and this price? Sign us up! The ’15 is a prime example of Ribbon Ridge Pinot with an added lift of freshness and buoyancy. It bursts with wild berries and fresh summer black cherries, underscored by savory earth tones.
Founded in 2000, Ayres includes 18 acres planted to Pinot Noir Dijon clones 667, 115, 777, 113, and Pommard all situated on a gently eastern sloping hill. Willakenzie soils predominate the vineyard. They are committed to sustainable growing practices; their health, the earth’s health, and the health of the plant are their top priorities.