The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier 2018

In another first for the Lett family, David Lett planted the original Willamette Valley Meunier vines. Plantings are spread across two of the five sites—Daphne and Sisters, the highest and the lowest on the property. The Daphne vineyard is on the crest of a hill and is one of the oldest and most highly elevated sites (260m) in the Dundee Hills AVA. The soils are shallow, averaging less than 10 inches on top of the volcanic bedrock. The site is windy and cool and as a result, the vines are small and the fruit intense. The Sisters Vineyard, planted in 1989, is the youngest of the five Eyrie sites. It sits at 67 metres, is south-facing and has more sedimentary soils.

Hand-picked fruit was destemmed and fermented naturally in a small vessels, ranging from one-tonne bins to five-tonne wooden cuves. Ferments were hand-plunged twice daily before being lightly pressed and aged in mostly old oak (less than 10% new) for 22 months.

Fresh, forest berry fruits, spice, blue florals and wet mineral aromas lead to a densely flavoured palate with a core of sweet blue fruits. This is balanced by savoury/saline nuances, snappy acidity and plump, beautifully integrated tannins. Linear, fresh and so generous, this is simply delicious.