Eyrie Vineyards

Eyrie Vineyards

True Oregon Wine Industry Pioneers-
David and Diana Lett established The Eyrie Vineyards in 1966, naming it for the red-tailed hawks that made their nest (EYE-ree) in the fir trees at the top of the vineyard. It was the first planting of Pinot noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley, and the first Pinot gris in America.

The Eyrie Vineyards’ philosophy, in the vineyards and in the winery, is to interfere as little as possible with the process of Nature. Eyrie wines are made exclusively from own-rooted estate-grown grapes, intensively handmanaged without the use of irrigation, insecticides, herbicides, or systemic fungicides. Annual production is limited to 8,000-10,000 cases.

THE VINEYARDS

Eyrie’s 50 acres of non-irrigated vines are grown in the Red Hills of Dundee, about 30 miles southwest of Portland. The winery is in nearby McMinnville. The four estate vineyards, planted at varying altitudes, are:

The Eyrie Vineyard: The original planting. 15 acres, 220'- 400' elevation; Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Pinot Meunier, Muscat Ottonel. First planted in 1966.

Stonehedge Vineyard: 13 acres, 720'-820' elevation; Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot Meunier. First planted in 1976.

Rolling Green Farm: 6 acres, 540'-720' elevation; Pinot noir, Pinot gris. First planted in 1988.

Three Sisters Vineyard: 16 acres, 200'-360' elevation; Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc. First planted in 1987.

THE WINES

Eyrie’s “gentle touch” philosophy carries from the vineyards into the winery. The grapes are picked at that elusive point of maturity where true varietal characteristics are at their peak. In the winery, great care is taken not to compromise these flavors. This means minimal racking, extended lees contact, complete and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, no fining, minimal filtration, and no cold stabilization (natural harmless tartrate crystals may form in the wine). This gentle treatment creates wines which are very approachable when young but with legendary ageability.

Estate Reserve Wines: Pinot noir and Chardonnay

Estate Wines: Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot Meunier

Estate Reserve Wines:

All grapes for Estate Reserve Pinot noir and Chardonnay come from Eyrie’s original planting, the oldest in the Willamette Valley. These vines reflect the complexity of their age and their long-established “sense of place.” This is translated into stylish wines showing finesse, subtlety and depth of character.

Pinot noir Estate Reserve
Fermented in small bins from completely destemmed and mostly whole berries. The ‘must’ is punched down by hand every four hours. After a gentle pressing, the wine is transferred to oak casks. During nearly two years in barrel, the wine falls naturally clear, and is bottled without filtration or fining.

Chardonnay Estate Reserve
Over the years, certain parts of the original “Draper Selection” Chardonnay plantings have consistently yielded wines with deeper, richer, more complex flavors. These wines are aged for eighteen months or more on unstirred lees, in a combination of neutral and new French and Oregon oak casks. They are un-fined and receive only one gentle filtration prior to bottling.

Estate Wines:
Eyrie’s estate wines come mostly from the three “younger” vineyards (average vine age of seventeen years). Each of these vineyards has its own individuality, but the ultimate blends represent a whole better than its parts.

Estate Pinot noir
Less “reserved” than Reserve wines, the Estate Pinot noirs are fresh and vivacious. Aged 11 months in mostly neutral oak casks, the wine is not fined, and is filtered only if necessary.

Estate Pinot gris
This blend of grapes from all four vineyards shows rich varietal character and complexity rarely found in Pinot gris (grigio). Fermented in stainless steel tanks, the wine gains added dimensions from remaining on the lees until bottling. It is given only one loose filtration prior to bottling.

Estate Chardonnay
In 1964, David Lett hand-selected a remarkable collection of vine cuttings from the Draper Ranch in northern California. The clonal diversity of this collection (originally imported from Burgundy), and the cool Burgundian climate of the Willamette Valley, combine to produce Eyrie’s unique and distinctly European-styled Chardonnay. Aged on the lees for eleven months in neutral oak, and given one loose filtration before bottling, the wines are subtly expressive, elegant, and long-lived.

Estate Pinot blanc
True Pinot blanc, from a collection of Alsatian clones planted at Eyrie’s Three Sisters (Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc) Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Limited bottling.

Estate Pinot Meunier
In northern France, Pinot Meunier is often blended with Pinot noir and Chardonnay in the production of fine Champagne. Eyrie makes it as a still red wine, and treats it to two years in cask, no fining or filtration. Limited bottling.

COMMENTS FROM THE PRESS

“At a time when marketing expediencies and the quest to appeal to the lowest common denominator are rampant cultural diseases, it is heartening to find someone so steadfastly committed to substance, and courageous enough to follow an independent path. In Lett’s case, it is more heartening still, when such a path has been so sublimely and emphatically validated.” Ted Meredith, Northwest Wine, 4th Ed.

“The pioneering winery set up in the late 1960s by David Lett produces silken, sexy, ethereally beautiful Pinot noir.” Decanter Magazine

“Where else . . . can you find wines which possess the transparency, the fragrance, the weightlessness of Eyrie’s Pinot noir’s? Answer: very few places indeed. This makes them revolutionary. David Lett is a trailblazer of the ‘new elegance.’” Stuart Piggott, M.W.

“The Eyrie Vineyards Chardonnays are consistently the best produced in Oregon. Furthermore, their aging potential would embarrass virtually all of California’s Chardonnays, as well as many of France’s renowned white Burgundies.” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

“The Eyrie Vineyards are the superstars of U.S. cool-climate winemaking, having consistently produced Burgundian varietals of extreme finesse and depth.” Robin Bradley, Wine Vintages of the West Coast, 2nd Ed.

“In a tasting of 20 vintages of Pinot noir . . . Mr. Lett showed he could produce exceptional Burgundy-style pinot noirs that equaled . . . or even surpassed Burgundy’s best.” Frank Prial, The New York Times

“Eyrie’s David Lett had foresight 20/20 with Pinot gris, introducing it to Oregon (and the U.S.) in the mid-sixties . . . Eyrie still makes one of the best examples.” Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

“In a blind tasting of over 20 Oregon Pinot gris, Eyrie, the first commercially made Pinot gris in America, still sets the standard . . . and at value pricing.” Steve Olson, Restaurant Business

On Pinot gris: “ . . . Eyrie is widely regarded as the New World’s top producer of this varietal.” Richard Nalley, Copley News Service

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Possibly the last of the 2002 Oregon Pinots to be released, 2002 was a near perfect vintage, and comparisons are being made between this wine and the world famous 1975 Eyrie Pinot noir that shook u
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Less "reserved" than his Reserve wines, the Eyrie Estate Pinot noirs are fresh and vivacious. Aged 11 months in mostly neutral oak casks, the wine is not fined, and is filtered only if necessary.
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In 1970 Eyrie Vineyards released the first Pinot gris from Oregon. The rest is history. Try the wine that started it all! Medium body and balanced acidity make Eyrie's Pinot gris a versatile food win
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Excellent example of Oregon Chardonnay from one of Oregon's wine pioneers, David Lett. He planted the first Pinot noir at his vineyard in 1966.
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David Lett is an Oregon winemaking pioneer. His Chardonnay Reserve is aged years longer than most wineries before release. 30+ year old estate vines yield a sophisticated, complex Chardonnay.
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Old vines and careful winemaking yield a complex, Alsatian style white. True Pinot blanc, from a collection of Alsatian clones planted at Eyrie's Three Sisters (Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc) V
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Eyrie makes very small amounts of this crisp, dry white wine.
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A most interesting and enjoyable red wine, made from a grape usually blended into champagne style wines.
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