Every so often I will uncork an older bottle of ‘The Eyrie Vineyards’ Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir. These wines no longer surprise me. Back ten years ago I was floored when I was first poured one of these wines from the 1980s — I simply could not fathom the level of freshness kept intact in the wine. Needless to say, these are wines that are built to age.
One of the historic wineries in Oregon, The Eyrie Vineyards Jason Lett continues his father's legacy that began in the 1960s. David Lett is known for making the first Pinot Gris wines in North America and made his mark as one of Oregon’s premier vintners. Jason has continued his father’s legacy and is crafting one of the outstanding wine lineups in the Willamette Valley.
I adored the new Eyrie releases which beautifully showcased the warm 2018 vintage. These are wines that show beautiful tension and finesse but have more mid-palate ripeness than the 2016 and 2017 bottlings. They are a must-buy for those who desire a touch of hedonism in Oregon Pinot Noir.
Eyrie makes some killer Chardonnay and I adored the new 2019 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is simply a can’t miss effort at this price. Even better is the new 2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which as everything you want in a warm vintage Oregon Pinot Noir — tension, richness, depth, flavor density, and flavor complexity. 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.
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier- Novel and complex, the rich 2018 Pinot Meunier exudes class with ripe red raspberry cordial, peat moss and shades of baking spices aromatically. The palate is soft and round, combining ripe red fruits with tilled soils and earthy undertones. Enjoy this fantastic new wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie Chardonnay- More deep and rich, but a touch less mineral-driven, the 2018 ‘Oregon’ Chardonnay by The Eyrie Vineyards shows the warmth of the vintage. Layers of buttercream and pineapple combine with nutmeg dusted Challah bread on the palate. This shows glorious length and stuffing, beautifully showcasing the 2018 vintage. iDrink 2021-2031- 93
2019 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay- Fresh vibrant and expressive, the 2019 ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay reveals loads of mouth-watering acidity and a soft texture upon entry. Layers of Japanese pear, brioche and tart melon fruits combine with stony minerals on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Daphne’ Pinot Noir- The small, 13 acre ‘Daphne Vineyard’ ironically mostly planted to Pinot Gris. Once on the nose this takes on dusty soils and ripe red cherry tones alongside shades of teaberry and baking spice infused orange rind aromatically. Soft and approachable, with beautiful depth and mouth-watering acidity, this black fruit driven Pinot Noir is absolutely gorgeous even at the three year mark and will be sure to provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. The combination of weight, range and verve here is seriously good. Drink 2021-2033- 94
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir- The set on both Jory and Marine Sedimentary soils, the ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir is a lower elevation site that seems to express both soil types really well in the bottle. This is a very pretty, salty Pinot Noir that shows beautiful red fruits colliding with wet volcanic stones, and shades of blood orange zest on the palate. Immediately gratifying with its savory tones and beautiful texture the 2018 ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2034- 94
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir comes from a very small plot of land in the Dundee Hills AVA. Already nicely evolved, this shows off a dusting of volcanic soils that combine with shades of peat moss and bright red fruits aromatically. Once on the mouth the silky texture exudes elegance. With bright acidity and serious weight, this ‘wow factor’ Oregon Pinot Noir bottling has at least another ten to fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2036- 95
2018 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. I love this wine for its combination of weight and bright acidity. You’re immediately greeted to loads of tension on the mid-palate with gorgeous red cherry and wild blackberry flavors alongside loamy soils on the palate. Showing beautiful length and persistence, this outstanding new Pinot Noir isn’t going anywhere for a really long time. Drink 2021-2035- 94
2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir- Some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley are planted in the sixteen acre ‘Eyrie Vineyard.’ Aromatically quite evolved and intense, this outstanding Pinot Noir shows off Earl Grey tea tones alongside peat moss, pine needles and ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured and fresh, showing outstanding weight and bright acidity. This finishes exceedingly long. Classy and every bit delicious in its youth, enjoy this fantastic new bottling over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2038- 95