It was an unseasonably warm day as wine lovers from across the globe gathered at Linfield University for the grand tasting at International Pinot Noir Festival. It might have been a touch hot to enjoy Oregon Pinot Noir, but Jason Left was there in style, also pouring his sensational ‘Original Vines' Pinot Gris. As I spoke with Jason, with each sip I was reminded again why he produces some of the best Pinot Gris in the Willamette Valley.
One of the historic wineries in Oregon, The Eyrie Vineyards Jason continues his father's legacy that began in the 1960s. David Lett is known for making the first Pinot Gris wines in North America. In 1965 he and his wife left California for Oregon and he began making wines I970. Lett sadly passed away in 2008 and Jason immediately took the reins as head winemaker for the winery. The tasting room boasts many very cool older wines that they have cellared remarkably from the 1980s and 90s. They have been on a huge run of successful vintages and this years releases are no exception.
The new Eyrie releases were fantastic across the board. One of the best Pinot Gris bottlings that you will find in North America is the absolutely stunning 2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Oregon’ Pinot Gris (OB, 93) is a utterly sensational value under thirty dollars. This is one to buy by the case. This can’t miss effort is truly one of the best of its kind. Their new Pinot Noir release, the 2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is dense and chewy, with incredible tension. Learn more about this fantastic and historic winery and their wines at http://www.eyrievineyards.com Here are the outstanding wines by The Eyrie Vineyards.
2019 The Eyrie Vineyards Chasselas Dore- This infrequently planted varietal, mostly heralding from Switzerland, shows a soft texture with melon, Marcona almond and wet stone tones predominantly on the palate. Elegant and silky smooth, this is best enjoyed in its youth. Drink 2020-2025- 90
2019 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc- The 2019 Pinot Blanc by Jason Lett is wonderfully textured showing nutty and earthy undertones that collide with shades of white peach, Japanese pear and honeydew melon tones. Complex and mineral-driven, this is truly one of the great Pinot Blanc wines made in Oregon. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris- Right away you are drawn to the bright pear and nectarine tones on the nose with damp earth and nutty accents playing second fiddle. The palate shows gobs of minerality and a silky texture that really entices. Rich, yet having great structure, pretty melon tones collide with minerals, wet stone and shades of Welches white grape juice on the palate. The long finish lingers. Sensational at this stage in its development, this has at least another ten years to go. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2019 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Gris- Sourced entirely from old vine Pinot Gris, this shows lovely nutty aromas that mingle with green papaya, mango and Gravenstein apple tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows incredible tension as a light salinity falls upon a good core of green apple, gooseberry, Marcona almond and damp earthy tones. Sensational in its youth, I think this has another ten years to go. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2017 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier- Certainly one of the novel bottling in Oregon red wine, the 2017 Pinot Meunier shows sour kirsch aromatics that meld with baking spices, summer sausage and peat moss tones, giving this gorgeous range. The palate has sterling minerality and sweeping tension that glides across the palate. Rose water tones connect well with the core of red fruits and blood orange zest with damp earth on the palate. Fantastic now at the three year mark, this will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2020-2032- 92
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Brightly colored in the glass, the 2018 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay by The Eyrie Vineyards shows a soft texture and rich mouthfeel. The heat of the vintage is here with the ripe tropical fruits and melon tones really impressing. With great length and a good acid backbone this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2017 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- This warm vintage Pinot Noir was sourced from the five Eyrie estate vineyards in the Dundee Hills. A whiff of volcanic terroir entices as layers of pretty red fruits collide with kumquat zest tones and smoky accents on the nose. The palate is beautifully structured, with a great veil of tension that falls upon the guava, red cherry candy and citrus rind tones. The length and texture add to the drinking enjoyment. Gorgeous in its youth, this beautiful wine has many years to go in the cellar. Drink 2020-2032- 92
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Daphne’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Daphne Vineyard’ is a small, 13 acre parcel mostly planted to Pinot Gris. Quite earthy, this shows a good core of dark kirsch and dark raspberry tones that mingle with minerals and the peat mossy, damp terroir. The mouthfeel and long finish provide a wonderful crescendo here, as this beautiful new Pinot Noir will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir is a lower elevation site set on Jory and marine sedimentary soils. The saline streak both aromatically and on the palate is gorgeous, as minerals cascade down with red raspberry preserves, blood orange zest, peat moss and shades of garrigue on this complex palate. Fresh and vibrant, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a silky texture, the 2016 ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Outcrop’ is sourced from a tiny, five acre parcel in the Dundee Hills. The complex bouquet truly entices with potpourri and sandalwood tones that mingle with peat moss, red cherry candy and guava puree. The palate is soft, round and generous, yielding some seriously good range and earthy elegance. The length of the wine catches you off-guard, as the thrilling 2016 ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noiur will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Rolland Green’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Rolland Green Vineyard’ is a six acre parcel that is planted to ungrafted Wadenswil and Pommard clone Pinot Noir. The earthy aromatics from the Pommard clone Pinot Noir really entice as a core of dark fruits and even cola tones round out the downright sexy aromatics. The soft palate really enitces, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. A deep core of red and dark fruits mingle with citrus rind and peat moss tones on the palate. Elegant and totally gratifying to enjoy in its youth, the outstanding 2016 ‘Rolland Green’ Pinot Noir will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2016 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir- The sixteen acre ‘Eyrie Vineyard’ boasts the Willamette Valley’s oldest vines. Once on the nose this takes on red raspberry liquor and dried herbal tones that mingle with orange rind, charcuterie and damp earth tones on this complex bouquet. The freshness imparted is downright awesome, as the lip-smacking acidity really impresses. Soft and elegant on the mouth, the tension cuts through the core of dark and red fruits, with blood orange rind and earthy undertones. Dazzling, and light on its feet, this beautiful new wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 94