Ayres Vineyard Pioneer Pinot noir 2010

Review:

The "Pioneer" is named in honor of a relative who endured the journey to a new land on the Oregon Trail.

2009 Vintage Tasting Notes

Layers of blackberry, marionberry, and boysenberry share space with wild mushrooms in a brambly sort of way. You will discover cinnamon, dried cocoa powder, and a bit of cherrywood smoke on the nose.

As always, the biggest and boldest Ayres Pinot Noir made from a single estate clone, 667. Named in honor of a family pioneer who endured the Oregon Trail, this is a wine that could stand up to such a journey.

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

True to its name, this Pioneer is ground breaking, boldly leading us to a rich mouthful of spiced blackberry, blueberry and dark currant and reaching for handfuls of violets and licorice along the way. A magical Pinot that displays dark, sappy, powerful fruit while retaining that vibrant essence of Pinot noir we all love. - Marcus

Smoky, earthy, blackberry, big! Pioneer is still the powerhouse of the vineyard and in the bottle, made exclusively of clone 667 from the first vines planted. Blackberry cobbler meets mushroom strudel at a rustic wood table situated deep in the forest. Because of the cooler growing conditions in 2007, Pioneer achieved an elegant quality which truly compliments this tour-de-force Pinot! - the winery

The Vineyard

AYRES Vineyard & Winery was purchased in September 2000 by business partners and family members, Brad McLeroy & Kathleen McClure-McLeroy and Don & Carol McClure. The existing filbert orchard was cleared that November and the first 3 acres of vines (Pinot Noir clone 667) were planted in March 2001. Currently the vineyard is planted to 6 acres of Pinot Noir clone 667, 3 acres of Pinot Noir clone 115, 4 acres of Pinot Noir clone 777, 1 acre of Pinot Noir clone 113, and 4 acres of Pommard. The vineyard is also host to an experimental plot of white grape varietals, including Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and the little known Pinot d’Auxerrois. -the winery