Beautifully lifted aromas of raspberry patch, with a sexy muskiness partnering with subtle orange. Crunchy and vibrant fruit hits your palate and while understated, sneakily persists for ages, reverberating with traces of mixed berries, savory spices and a vinous purity, as though you can taste the vineyard through this wine. It is a brand new release and as such, should be given space to open up if you’re enjoying now (ideally, drink it over 2-3 days, and with dinner). It will last 10-15 years (or more) in your cellar.
It’s no exaggeration to say that we’d need the space of a dozen wine club newsletters to cover meaningfully the impact and importance of The Eyrie Vineyards to Oregon wine. Just as Steven Spurrier’s 1976 tastings brought international legitimacy to California Cabernet and Chardonnay, Spurrier’s tasting in Paris (1979) and Beaune (1980) brought international attention to Oregon as the New World home of Pinot noir. Eyrie’s 1975 Pinot noir outshone several top Burgundy’s and became a wine of legend.
Founders David and Diana Lett established their winery in 1966, naming it for the red-tailed hawks that made their nest (EYE-ree) in the fir trees at the top of the vineyard. It was the first planting of Pinot noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley, and the first Pinot gris in America.