Today we share one of the Oregon greats that continues to fly under the radar. Ayoub is the brainchild of Mo Ayoub who has been producing world class Pinot Noir wines for more than a decade. Back in 2001 Mo Ayoub planted his namesake vineyard and began crafting his wines in 2004. Each Pinot Noir artfully showcases its individual site as these are highly memorable and terroir-driven Pinot Noir wines. Mo made the great decision to work with with one of the great winemaking talents in Oregon, consulting winemaker Robert Brittan. Mo makes a range of brilliant bottlings, including new bubbles which I tasted with him during my visit there last week.
Mo is very reflective and self-critical. He is one of the honest people in our industry that seeks nothing less than to craft stunning wines year after year. He has definitely achieved that. I recently had the chance to review all of the new releases from the 2021 vintage. I adored the new 2021 Ayoub Vineyards Chardonnay (OB, 95) which might just be the best Chardonnay bottling that Mo Ayoub has made. This is rich and layered with tons of aging potential. Even better is the single barrel Pinot Noir, the 2021 Ayoub ‘Latifah’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is named after Mo Ayoub’s mother. This is very dense and heady, having potential to be a 20 year wine. Learn more about the beautiful Ayoub wines at https://www.ayoubwines.com Here are the great wines by Ayoub.
2021 Ayoub ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- Another year, another incredible Chardonnay bottling by Mo Ayoub. This 2021 edition comes from the Dundee Hills AVA and shows wonderfully flinty tones on the nose alongside Japanese pear and Key lime zest. The palate is beautifully textured, showing an amazing combination of weight, acidity and texture. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a blockbuster effort that is not to be missed. This beauty will easily go for another ten plus years. Drink 2023-2033- 95
2021 Ayoub ‘Memoirs’ Pinot Noir- Year after year, the Memoirs Pinot Noir is one of the most emotionally resonant Pinots made in the region, as it is a tribute to Mo Ayoub’s relatives that have passed on. This edition displays a family photo from 1964 on a beach in Lebanon. This edition is jam-packed full of flavor. Rich red fruits parade with blood orange rind, cigar ash and shades of red rose water on the palate. A stunning new wine that comes in at a reasonably price, enjoy the 2021 Memoirs now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 94
2021 Ayoub ‘Avant-Garde Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Undoubtedly one of the unique wines made in the Willamette Valley, this Cabernet Franc comes from this Dundee Hills AVA vineyard. Herbal and loaded with tannins, with pretty good mid-palate depth, this shows bright black and blue fruit flavors with chocolate and coffee ground undertones. Well-done! Drink 2023-2035- 92
2021 Ayoub ‘Anonimo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This concentrated and delicious 2021 Pinot Noir opens with beautiful red and black florals that combine with stony and silty soil tones on the nose. The palate is plush and shows beautiful tension, weight and power. It is quite honestly a stunning new bottling that is already beautifully evolved with its core of red and dark fruit flavors. I can see this beauty cellaring well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2021 Ayoub ‘Estate Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir- The rich and layered 2021 Ayoub ‘Estate Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir is a big and burly, warm-vintage rendition of this wine. It displays gobs of crunchy red fruits on the palate, with pink grapefruit, loamy soil and light tannins framing everything nicely. Quite primary and heady right now, give this at least another year in the bottle to fully evolve. Drink 2024-2036- 95
2021 Ayoub ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous new 2021 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir by Ayoub beautifully showcases this rich vintage in the Willamette Valley. Once on the nose this shows off potpourri with intense red currant and pomegranate seed notes that combine with stony soils. The palate is soft and seamless, with refined tannins and a very lengthy finish. A complete wine, this is already nicely evolved — and will show marvelously for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2021 Ayoub ‘Latifah’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2021 ‘Latifah’ is a fitting tribute to Mo Ayoub’s mother who sadly is no longer with us. This beauty is very pure with a literal cornucopia of red fruits that greet you — from strawberry and raspberry to tart pomegranate seed notes that collide with shades of forest floor and white truffle shavings. Salty and savory with a seamless mouthfeel and wonderful length, this beauty is absolutely singing in its heady youth. Only one barrel made, so get this while you can. Drink 2023-2038- 96