Thinking-Drinking
  • Blog
  • Erin
  • Index
  • Articles
  • News
  • Contact

The Eyrie Vineyards "South Block" pinot noir, 1999 (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

1/29/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture





One of the best domestic wines I have ever had....

We owe so much to David Lett, our late founding father of Oregon pinot, and his wife Diana. They planted the first pinot noir in the Willamette Valley, put Oregon pinot noir on the global map, and also brought the first pinot gris to the USA. David was a visionary, and the sum of his work has shaped the current Oregon wine scene. David's son, Jason, took over in 2005. David passed away in 2008; read more about his journey in Eric Asimov's article. 

It was such a treat the other night to taste David's Eyrie Vineyards 1999 South Block pinot noir. The grapes come from Eyrie Vineyard's south block (formerly an old plum orchard), planted in 1966 and clocking in as the oldest vineyard in Willamette Valley. The farming has always been chemical-free and organic, the winemaking relies on natural yeasts and natural malo.  What fascinates me is that these vines are planted on their own roots-- a rarity these days. If it were my job to choose a lineup of wines to support the argument that better and more complex wines can be made from ungrafted vines, this would be in my final flight of evidence.  

The Eyrie Vineyards "South Block" pinot noir, 1999 (Willemette Valley, Oregon)
dried cherries, dried leaves, wet earth, mushrooms, truffles, braised strawberries, leather, thyme

Bibliography
Asimov, Eric. (2008) David Lett, Oregon Wine Pioneer, Dies at 69. The New York Times. 2008 Oct 13.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    _

    Erin

    I’m Erin, and this is my wine blog. Here, you'll find information about wines from around the world, and Virginia.  



    Top Posts

    Elizabeth Bird
    Sommelier History
    Stars & Terroir
    Dry German Wine
    1962 NYC Wine List

      Want to subscribe?

    Submit

    Archives

    March 2024
    February 2023
    December 2021
    May 2021
    June 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.