Oregon & Washington Wine Specialists Since 1988
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Beaux Freres
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It was in the winter of 1992 that I first pulled up Mike Etzel's steep and scrabbly driveway. He'd released his first Beaux Freres Pinot noirs and I wanted them for my wine shop. The web was yet to come, Oregon was considered an obscure wine region producing more duds than winners, and not a B&B, restaurant, or tour van was to be seen. Ribbon Ridge was a road, not an appellation, and the chicken farmer down the road thought Mike was crazy to grow grapes. I've sold every vintage of Mike's wines since that first fateful visit. Put t read more
MORE INFORMATIONIt was in the winter of 1992 that I first pulled up Mike Etzel's steep and scrabbly driveway. He'd released his first Beaux Freres Pinot noirs and I wanted them for my wine shop. The web was yet to come, Oregon was considered an obscure wine region producing more duds than winners, and not a B&B, restaurant, or tour van was to be seen. Ribbon Ridge was a road, not an appellation, and the chicken farmer down the road thought Mike was crazy to grow grapes. I've sold every vintage of Mike's wines since that first fateful visit. Put them in our wine club, tasted each vintage numerous times, followed their development in the cellar. Admired Mike's commitment to a longterm vision of what his winery could become, allowing the vines to mature, the wines to age, and his knowledge of winemaking to grow. - Jean
Beaux Freres is an small, extremely highly regarded winery in Oregon's Northern Willamette Valley. The Estate Vineyard, a mere 24 acres, produces some of the highlest rated North American Pinot noirs, year after year. Mike Etzel, co-owner of the winery with Robert Parker, the famous wine critic, is both winemaker and careful overseer of his Estate and Upper Terrace Vineyards. A remarkably approachable vintage, the Beaux Freres 2006's are ready to drink and immediately impressive. The winery calls them "hedonistic". Yes, they're hedonistic and appealing as heck -- and, even better than the passionately remembered 1994 vintage sexpots, they have classic structure for aging and the potential to become profound with time in the cellar. There are only twelve 95 point Oregon Pinots from Wine Spectator - three are Beaux Freres', for the 2002, 2003, and 2004 vintages. Beaux Freres' 2006 Pinots are better than ever. Beaux Freres 2006 Pinot noirs The 2006 Beaux Freres Pinots represent a new benchmark in quality for Mike's winemaking. Parker helped write the 2006 Beaux Freres tasting notes, and he says the 2006 Estate Pinot is"the sexiest, most hedonistic wine from this vineyard site to date. For that reason, we think it is among the finest wines we have ever produced." Yes, they're hedonistic and appealing as heck -- and, even better than the passionately remembered 1994 vintage sexpots, they have classic structure for aging and the potential to become profound with time in the cellar. Beaux Freres Beaux Freres
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