Eyrie Chardonnay Original Vines Reserve 09

2009 Wine Advocate - 92 points - The 2009 Chardonnay Reserve is a barrel selection of the original plantings. Substantial and complex on the palate, this concentrated, creamy-textured, beautifully balanced wine is likely to evolve for several years and drink well through 2019 if not longer. - Jay Miller

2009 was a great year for Chardonnay grapes. Intense and focused, this wine will cellar for many years.

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Wine Advocate 92 points!

2008 Wine Advocate - 92 points - The 2008 Chardonnay Original Vines Reserve was made entirely from the Draper clone. It is light gold in color with an expressive nose of mineral, pear, spiced apple, floral notes, and white peach. Savory, rich, and elegant on the palate, it will continue to evolve for several years (Eyrie’s Chardonnays can have amazing longevity) and drink well for a decade or more. - Jay Miller

From the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Willamette Valley. Eyrie’s Chardonnay cuttings originated in Burgundy, were brought to America in the 30’s, and found a home in the Eyrie Vineyards in 1967. This cuvee draws together eight barrels of superior quality selected by winemaker Jason Lett. Limited production. 92 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

The Eyrie Reserve Chardonnay 06 shows barely a hint of oak, yet the wine is rich and full, with a lovely lingering finish. Will continue to develop complexity and character over the next five to ten years. A single-vineyard wine made from the first Chardonnay vines in the Willamette Valley.

"Eyrie Reserve Chardonnay - A delicate and refined Chardonnay. The cooler climate and restrained use of oak result in a fruit-first wine that’s a far truer expression of Chardonnay’s character than almost any other New World wine.” -Nick Passmore, Forbes.com

This is a delicate and refined chard, very different from the big, buttery versions we are used to in the U.S. The cooler climate and the restrained use of oak result in a fruit-first wine that's a far truer expression of chardonnay's character than almost any other New World wine.

More from Forbes Magazine: "In its delicacy it reminds me of a Chablis, and interestingly enough it has that allusive green tint that one sometimes finds in a Chablis but in no other chardonnay. There's good acid structure here, and a zesty, citrusy, lemony tang that's ameliorated by just a touch of sweetness. This is very definitely a food-friendly wine, and one with style and personality too."

"Lett says he tries to make wine "with less power...more pretty," and stumbling syntax aside, this delectable chardonnay certainly has plenty of "pretty." "

The grapes for Eyrie Reserve Chardonnay come from a section of the vineyard winemaker David Lett singles out as consistently producing superior fruit. The Reserve Chardonnay is aged in Oregon oak, which particularly complements Eyrie's Chardonnay, and comes from a collection of clones know as the "Draper Selection" (unlike most American Chardonnay which is produced primarily from a single clone known as "108"). The Draper Selection descends from a variety of European clones imported in the mid 1930's and contributes greatly to the complexity of the wine.