Ayoub Brittan Vineyard Pinot noir 09

Boisterous and big in personality, the Ayoub Brittan immediately won me over (hence its selection as a Reserve Pinot Club wine). Stretching out in all directions, you get wild berries from the vine that absolutely burst, with an underlying earthy minerality. Like the Estate, this needs room to breathe and when it does, the whole wine becomes more polished without sacrificing an ounce of the fun, nervy exquisiteness. We recommend cellaring for at least three years. Only 200 cases made. - Marcus

2009 Wine Advocate - 93 points - My favorite of the Ayoub wines is the 2009 Pinot Noir Brittan Vineyard. Veteran vigneron, Robert Brittan, has carved out a vineyard that seems to optimize the best qualities of the McMinnville AVA. In a relatively high yielding vintage, the fruit for this cuvee came in at a low 1.75 tons per acre with a pH of only 3.4. It was aged for 11 months in 35% new French oak. Stony mineral notes, allspice, incense, violets, black cherry, and blueberry aromas inform the nose of a vibrant wine whose firm acid structure nicely frames the wine's fruit. In the glass note of licorice, and bitter-sweet chocolate make an appearance. This nicely proportioned, silky, already complex Pinot Noir is one of the stars of the vintage. - Jay Miller

Brittan Vineyard of McMinnville is known for its rich basalt rock that produces intensely dark pinots with exceptional flavor. This is another Ayoub wine that will age well and will be enjoyed for many years, but only if you purchase it soon - only 200 cases were produced.