It is my great pleasure to share the story of Beaux Freres, one of Oregon’s finest producers of Pinot Noir. Michael Etzel founded this famed Ribbon Ridge outpost more than twenty years ago. While on vacation in 1986 Michael came across an 88 acre pig farm and after some consideration he decided to purchase the land with his brother in law, Robert Parker — and the rest became Oregon wine history. Michael focused on his job as vineyard manager by planting Pinot Noir in the Ribbon Ridge AVA and while planting his vineyard he interned at Ponzi Winery. It was all the way back in1990, that Michael harvested his first estate fruit and sold the grapes winemakers Ken Wright and Dick Ponzi. Michael came to see that there was something exceptional about fruit from his vineyard and began making focused, mineral-driven Pinot Noirs from this special site. The wines were subsequently reviewed with incredible acclaim.
I adore the purity of these wines. There is something about this location that produces a purity of red fruit that is quite simply unparalleled with anything found in the Willamette Valley. The wines show some of the most aging ability that you will find in this region.
The 2022 Beaux Frères ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) is deep, rich and concentrated with fantastic finesse. This is elegant, concentrated Pinot noir that has a long life ahead of it. I was blown away with the 2022 Beaux Frères ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is one of the finest Pinot Noirs from Oregon that I have tasted in the past year. This beautiful wine will easily cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about this famed winery at beauxfreres.com and here is my review of the new Beaux Freres wines.
2022 Beaux Frères ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The stunning 2022 Beaux Frères ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay comes from Star Mooring and Doration as well as Pearlstad vineyards. This was stored in 30% new French oak for one year before bottling.The nose offers beautiful nutty tones alongside chalky soils, white peach, baked apple and baking spice laced pie crust notes. The palate is big, showing off an unctuous texture and beautiful length. Deeply rich and layered, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95
2021 Beaux Frères ‘Doration’ Pinot Noir- This comes from the Doration Vineyard which was planted by Mikie Etzel back in 2015. This site has predominantly been planted to California clones such as Calera and Swan. This shows beautiful red florals on the nose alongside salty soils, red currants and shades of tart cranberry. The palate is refined and concentrated as this has great elegance, richness and underlying tension. A total stunner, this is already nicely evolved and will live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96
2022 Beaux Frères ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Beaux Frères ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ is sourced from this famed Ribbon Ridge site that was planted back in 2012 by Carey Critchlow and Michael Etzel. This 12 acre location is planted to 17 separate Pinot Noir clones. The nose shows gorgeous red florals alongside red cheery, lavender, loamy soils and suggestions of guava puree. The palate is ultra-lush and refined with serious texture and chewy tannins. Dense and chewy, loaded with bright red fruits, this will easily be a 20 year wine. Only 12.4% alcohol. Drink 2025-2045- 97
2021 Beaux Frères ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Another wine with serious aging potential, the fabulous and flamboyant 2021 Beaux Frères ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from Dijon clone Pinot Noir. Also very dark in the glass, this reveals rich wild blackberry and black cherry notes on the nose with stony soils, cigar box and shades of milk chocolate. The palate is plush as silky tannins frame this gorgeous core of black fruit flavors alongside crushed mint, cardamom dusted red raspberry and rich fig notes. Big and bold, this has incredible richness yet comes across weightless on the mid-palate. Give this an hour of air if enjoying now, as this beauty will live on for easily another twenty years to come. This is one of the great wines of Oregon that I’ve had the pleasure of tasting in the past year. Drink 2025-2045- 98