It always excites me when I have a chance to try a new Pacific Northwest winery. One that focuses on bubbles, Lytle-Barnett has produced some consistently great sparkling wines since I first tasted them back in 2020. Lytle-Barnett utilizes talent across the globe as they have commissioned sparkling wine Oregonian Andrew Davis, as well as South Africa’s sparkling winemaker Pieter Ferreira making their méthode champenoise wines.
I think that the wines offer good value considering their higher price. The wines are very nuanced and showing outstanding flavor complexity. Unlike some wines of this region, Lytle-Barnett sparkling wines spend extended time in tirage before being released which certainly adds depth to the flavors and aromatics. Check out the new 2019 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which has outstanding richness and depth, as well as beautiful flavor range. Learn more at https://lytle-barnett.com/ and here are my reviews of the great new Lytle-Barnett wines.
2019 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine- This outstanding 2019 ‘Blanc de Noirs’ hails from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. It is quite complex and rich on the nose with buttered sourdough bread, baking spices and shades of ripe red raspberry. The palate is round and generous with a great combination of weight and underling tension. Tart melon and citrus fruits mingle well with yeasty undertones on the palate. Great to enjoy now with serious nerve, this will easily cellar for another eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2018 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- Another great release, this 2018 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine beautifully showcases this warm vintage in the Willamette Valley. Once on the nose this shows off layers of pink grapefruit blossom, kumquat and shades of salted French bread. The palate is tart and crisp with fantastic verve and viscosity. This is even better than the 2017 edition, with glorious length and balance with its tree and citrus fruit core. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 93
2016 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- A blend of nearly all Pinot Noir (68%) with the reminder Chardonnay, this 2016 bottling is showing marvelously at now seven years of age. It is beautifully textured, with great poise and weight. Layers of guava and citrus fruits combine with salty and stony minerals, with hazelnut undertones on the palate. Very complex, don’t serve this too warm to take in the great range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2017 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut Rose’ Spackling Wine- The 2017 ‘Brut Rose’ is composed of 70% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay all sourced from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. A very delicate pink color, this offers bright marionberry and strawberry tones on the nose with plenty of citrus zest notes backing things up. The plate is fresh and viscous with a great sense of finesse. Showing a silky mousse, this offers excellent length and would be an awesome match for toro nigiri. Drink 2023-2031- 93