One of the excellent producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Aubaine focuses on single vineyard and estate only wines Founder Andy Lytle has a love of Burgundy and Champagne, as he is half of Lytle-Barnett. An iconic winemaker, Isabelle Meunier, has made a range of wines for producers across the Willamette Valley. Meunier is native of Quebec, and she studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, as well as in New Zealand at Lincoln University. Following her eduction she worked at famed producers Felton Road in New Zealand, as well as Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon.
Isabelle moved to the Willamette Valley in 2007 to work with Evening Land and had incredible success with that program. She later started her own winery venture, LAVINEA, an artisan production of distinctive single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
I love the 2023 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is very pretty and shows great viscosity and a core of tart red fruits. Learn more about this outstanding producer at aubainewine.com and here are my reviews of the new Aubaine wines.
2023 Aubaine ‘Anhata Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Lush and delightful, the 2023 ‘Anhata Vineyard’ is loaded with pear and starfruit flavors alongside a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2023 Aubaine ‘Athas’ Chardonnay- A delicious new bottling, the 2023 ‘Athas’ is a single-block wine from the Anhata Vineyard made by famed winemaker Isabelle Meunier. It is rich and viscous with rocky soils alongside rich melon and citrus fruits on the palate. The richness and tension with serious focus indicates this will easily cellar for another ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2023 Aubaine ‘Vreugde’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Aubaine ‘Vreugde’ Chardonnay is also a single block bottling from this warm vintage. This comes off fat and round on the mouth with loads of minerality. Rich cashew nut and melon tones collide with wet stone, crushed white flowers and a lengthy finish. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2038- 94
2023 Aubaine ‘Anhata Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A great wine to enjoy now, the 2023 Pinot Noir shows a good melange of black and red fruits on the palate alongside rocky soils and wild mushroom notes. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2023 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir-Sourced from the Anahata Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, this 2023 Pinot Noir opens with red flowers and cardamom on the nose alongside red raspberry tones. The palate is soft and delicious as tart red fruits parade with citrus rind and baking spice notes on the palate. Showing a lengthy finish, enjoy this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93