Ayres Vineyard Pioneer Pinot noir 09
2009 Wine Advocate - 91 points - The 2009 Pinot Noir Pioneer was made exclusively from Dijon clone 667 grown in the estate vineyard. Sandalwood, cinnamon, clove, brier, boysenberry, and blackberry aromas set the stage for an already complex wine with a vibrant acid structure that frames its dark-tinged fruit. Give this classy offering 1-2 years of additional cellaring and drink it through 2021.
Vigneron Brad McLeroy is owner/winemaker of Ayres Vineyard. He planted his 18 acres of Pinot Noir in 2001. He did a fine job with his 2008s and has handled the conditions provided by the 2009 vintage equally well. - Jay Miller
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
Ayres Vineyard Pioneer Pinot noir 07 is 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
