Today we share the outstanding wines of Jason Lett and The Eyrie Vineyards. One of the historic wineries in Oregon, 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. These wines age incredibly well as I have tasted some from the 1980s that still have life.
The new wines come from the slightly cooler 2022 vintage. I love the 2023 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is a killer value for the price. Even better is the new 2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which has the depth, flavor density, and flavor complexity to cellar well for decades. 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.
2023 The Eyrie Vineyards Chasselas Dore- A unique wine from Oregon, the 2023 The Eyrie Vineyards Chasselas Dore delivers green apple and juicy melon notes on the nose with shades of pie crust and marzipan. The palate is fresh and shows a great mineral steak with a soft mouthfeel. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2023 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 ‘The Eyrie’ is a dense and polished effort from this warmer vintage. Japanese pear and alongside marzipan and brioche notes that all mingle well with the beautiful tension in the wine. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2023 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris- A world-class ‘Estate’ Gris, this 2023 edition offers serious texture and richness, with an oily mouthfeel once on the approach. Meyer lemon, cantaloupe and shades of baking spices all combine with bright starfruit and marzipan notes on the palate. Dense and approachable now, this has both the weight and structure to cellar well for another ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a world-class coming from this site first founded back in 1965. This is rich, layered and highly nervy stuff that is drinking remarkably well in its tension-filled youth. Once on the nose this takes on salty soils with wet rock, Mandarin orange rind and suggestions of cardamom with bright guava fruits. The palate is soft and refined, showing a silky texture and excellent minerality. Not big or burly but full on the mouth, with terrific flavor density, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Daphne’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Daphne’ comes from this 13 acre ‘Daphne Vineyard’ parcel in the Dundee Hills. The volcanic soil character is evident here, showing crushed wet rock, red rose petals, orange rind and shades of teaberry on the nose. The palate is smoky and wonderfully textured, with serious tension. Pure in terms of its ripe red fruit profile, enjoy now and over the next ten plays years. Drink 2025-2037- 94
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Sisters’ comes from vines set on Jory and Marine Sedimentary soils. This is translucent in the glass, offering a silky texture with lovely weight and tension. Ripe guava and red raspberry fruit flavors mingle well with salty soils and cran-pomegranate. Gorgeous now, and wonderfully nervy, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this small site in the Dundee Hills AVA. This is already drinking beautifully right now, with rocky soils and red rose petals on the nos alongside orange rind and shades of white pepper. The palate is plush and round, with a generous mouthfeel and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Bright and fresh, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Rolland Green’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Rolland Green Vineyard’ comes from this small, 6-acre site set on ungrafted Wadenswil and Pommard clone Pinot Noir. This is fresh and lithe stuff, offering wet stone with orange peel, suggestions of forest floor and black truffle shavings that mingle well with tart red and dark fruits. Brimming with bright acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 94
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir- The mesmerizing 2022 ‘The Eyrie’ comes from some of the older Pinot Noir vines found in the Willamette Valley. This is a classy, dense and beautifully nervy effort that has decades to go. Coming from this sixteen acre site, the wine is wonderfully earthy with forest floor and peat moss notes that mingle well with black tea, blackberry compete and red currants on the palate. Complex and delicious with serious tension and salty soil accents, enjoy now and one the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95