Horsetail Pinot noir 2011

Review:

The 2011 vintage of Jared and Mikey Etzel's Horsetail Pinot noir is made from the prestigious Ana, Guadalupe, and Stony Mountain Vineyards. It's a luscious Pinot: a mouthwatering sweet blackberry and rose petal scent is joined by ripe cherry flavors and a hint of forest floor in a long silky finish. Big, juicy, easy to enjoy, it's a real crowd pleaser.

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Jared and Mikey had a remarkable year. Both men are newly minted general managers/head winemakers for new wineries. Jared (below in photo at the site of his new vineyard, in the middle of the most prestigious part of the Dundee Hills) has partnered with the son of one of Beaux Freres' investors to found a new vineyard and winery, as yet unnamed. Located on a prime vineyard site in the middle of the Dundee Hills, the vineyard was planted in April 2013. Expect Jared's first wine (from purchased fruit) next year.

Mikey (at right with Mark Tarlov) is now head winemaker at Chapter 24, Mark Tarlov's (founder of Evening Land Vineyards) new venture. Their first wine, Two Messengers Pinot noir 2011, was recently released. To make the wine, Mikey and consulting winemaker Louis-Michel Liger-Belair were given access to the entire barrel room of Patricia Green Cellars. Together they made their own custom blend, encompassing many Oregon AVAs.

Below, Jared at site of his new vineyard on Worden Hill Road in the Dundee Hills

2009 Vintage Tasting Notes

Energetically drinkable, greatly expanding as it glides seamlessly across your palate. Dark berries with bits of bramble, adding cola spice, dried cherries, sweet cigar and thyme notes on the long, fruit-filled finish. I love the combo of restraint and balance with youthful energy. Jared thinks this is the best Horsetail they've made I agree with him 100%. - Marcus

Get this while you can - only 80 cases were made and they will disappear over the Memorial Day weekend.

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Update on the Winemakers and the Winery

A lot has happened in the year since we sent you the 2008 vintage of Jared and Mikey's wines. Mikey is now vineyard manager at one of the top vineyards in Oregon, Brick House Vineyards. I can't emphasize enough how much it says about his skills. Brick House owner Doug Tunnell's vineyard is always at the top of any list of Oregon's organic vineyards. His Estate wines were singled out by New York Times last year for a feature article. He is very involved with the vineyard and only hires the best.

Jared is at an equally prestigious job, living in St Helena CS and working for Denis Malbec (previously of CH. Latour in Bordeaux) winemaking consulting to Kapcsandy (recently had back to back 100pt RP ratings,) Blankiet, and Capture wineries. Jared is also developing with his brothers a very small project producing Cabernet Sauvignon from a beautiful vineyard on Mt. Veeder in Napa Valley, the scope of the project is to produce a Cabernet Sauvignon from microscopic yields that has great flavor intensity but also has refinement and elegance. The first vintage is 2010 and is currently in barrel, it will be called "Lisa Chu Vineyard By The Etzel Brothers".

Youngest brother Nathan is currently in Denmark finishing his bachelors degree in electrical engineering at the Denmark Technical Institute.

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Horsetail Pinot noir 08 (Coattails Winery) - Jared and Mikey Etzel, two sons of Beaux Freres' winemaker and co-owner Mike Etzel, have their own winery. Horsetail Pinot noir is their super value - it was a big hit last year. With only 80 cases of the 2008, this promises to fly out the door. Rose and cola spice intertwines with black cherry and red currant to create a lively Pinot. Sweet fruit and white pepper carry the finish. Great juice!

Horsetail Pinot noir 07 - Jared and Mikey Etzel, two sons of Beaux Freres' Mike Etzel, have released their first Pinot noir. Horsetail Pinot noir is the first wine from Beaux Freres' second generation. And so far, it's the Rookie of the Year.

Fragrant aromas of lilac, cinnamon, and pretty red fruit perfume with a background of dried herbs. Fresh yet rich flavors caress your tongue - purple flower-accented sweet cherry, sarsaparilla, brambly raspberry, and a creamy earth note. The finish resonates with pure Pinot noir character. - Marcus

Jared explains the choice of name - "The "Horsetail" name comes from the Equisetum hyemale 'Horsetail Fern', a plant that is used in biodynamic vineyards. The plant is made into a silica spray that enhances light absorption."

The 2007 Horsetail was made from Broadley Vineyard and Wahle Vineyard fruit. It is a mix of Dijon cones (Broadley) and the Courey Clone (Wahle). The Courey clone is a rare upright clone, old vines grown upright. The Courey Clone in the Wahle Vineyard was planted by the same respected vineyard manager who planted several blocks of the Beaux Freres Vineyard.

The color is translucent medium ruby with a fresh sweet berry and earthy, soil and spice aroma that lacks no ripeness, offers lots of fruit, but also conveys terrific finesse and delicacy. In the mouth, the Dijon clone fruit is obvious, with lots of cherry and spicy raspberry notes. But it's not sweet and candied. There's great acidic freshness that carries the flavors a long way and refreshes the palate for food or another sip. I don't pick up too much oak in this wine, and the finish turns mineral rather than sweet and caramel. In sum, this is excellent Oregon pinot noir and something I think will last in the cellar for several years, gaining aged sweetness and fat to hang on the nervy acid structure. - Elevage

Tasting Notes - 2007 Vintage

Horsetail Pinot noir 07 - Jared and Mikey Etzel, two sons of Beaux Freres' Mike Etzel, have released their first Pinot noir. Horsetail Pinot noir is the first wine from Beaux Freres' second generation. And so far, it's the Rookie of the Year.

Fragrant aromas of lilac, cinnamon, and pretty red fruit perfume with a background of dried herbs. Fresh yet rich flavors caress your tongue - purple flower-accented sweet cherry, sarsaparilla, brambly raspberry, and a creamy earth note. The finish resonates with pure Pinot noir character. - Marcus

Jared explains the choice of name - "The "Horsetail" name comes from the Equisetum hyemale 'Horsetail Fern', a plant that is used in biodynamic vineyards. The plant is made into a silica spray that enhances light absorption."

The 2007 Horsetail was made from Broadley Vineyard and Wahle Vineyard fruit. It is a mix of Dijon cones (Broadley) and the Courey Clone (Wahle). The Courey clone is a rare upright clone, old vines grown upright. The Courey Clone in the Wahle Vineyard was planted by the same respected vineyard manager who planted several blocks of the Beaux Freres Vineyard.

The color is translucent medium ruby with a fresh sweet berry and earthy, soil and spice aroma that lacks no ripeness, offers lots of fruit, but also conveys terrific finesse and delicacy. In the mouth, the Dijon clone fruit is obvious, with lots of cherry and spicy raspberry notes. But it's not sweet and candied. There's great acidic freshness that carries the flavors a long way and refreshes the palate for food or another sip. I don't pick up too much oak in this wine, and the finish turns mineral rather than sweet and caramel. In sum, this is excellent Oregon pinot noir and something I think will last in the cellar for several years, gaining aged sweetness and fat to hang on the nervy acid structure. - Elevage