HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Beaux Freres' Estate vineyard is next to Patty Green's Estate vineyard. This wine is made from the block of vines closest to Beaux Freres', and is named for winemaker and co-owner of Beaux Freres, Mike Etzel.

Aside from displaying the sweetness and smokiness from the oak the wine has great aromatics of blackberries, raspberries, tar, tobacco and exotic spices. The wine is concentrated and full with tremendous length. It's exciting to experience the emergence of a new world class vineyard in Ribbon Ridge with the release of this wine.

Magnum and 5 liter sizes only remaining. Order magnums here, call for 5 liter ($500 retail).

2004 TASTING NOTES

From the winery:

The Estate Vineyard is broken up into 17 different blocks based upon age of vine, clonal material, elevation, aspect, etc. All the blocks have been given a name for various reasons (Pheasant, Lakeview, etc.) and this is named after the owner and winemaker, Mike Etzel, of our next door neighbor Beaux Freres. This block runs along the gully of blackberries, poison oak and a small stream that we share with them. The so-called Etzel Block (really, a tip of the hat to someone who we think of as talented, neighborly and crazed) was planted in 1986 and is the second oldest block of grapes on the property. The hill slopes toward the northwest in this block making for fruit that ripens much differently than from anywhere else in the vineyard. In our continuing effort to produce wines that show the site they were grown in we have bottled this captivating Pinot.

We were able to use a whole cluster fermentation again (the only one we were able to pull off in 2004) on this block to further enhance the refined qualities this block offers. This technique, especially with older vines, enhances the aromatics, texture and density of the wine making it at once fuller and more structured but also more precise, defined and elegant. Aside from displaying the sweetness and smokiness from the oak the wine has great aromatics of blackberries, raspberries, tar, tobacco and exotic spices. The wine is concentrated and full with tremendous length. This is a superb wine that will rank up with the Notorious for our top wine of the vintage.

2003 TASTING NOTES

Sweetness and smokiness from the oak in the nose, this wine has great aromatics of blackberries, raspberries, tar, tobacco and exotic spices. The wine is concentrated and full with tremendous length.

From the winery: "This may be the most exciting wine in the cellar from an individual vineyard for the 2003 vintage. The Estate Vineyard is broken up into 17 different blocks based upon age of vine, clonal material, elevation, aspect, etc. All the blocks have been given a name for various reasons (Pheasant, Lakeview, etc.) and this is named after the owner and winemaker, Mike Etzel, of our next door neighbor Beaux Freres.

This block runs along the gully of blackberries, poison oak and a small stream that we share with Beaux Freres. The so-called Etzel Block (really, a tip of the hat to someone who we think of as talented, neighborly and crazed) was planted in 1986 and is the second oldest block of grapes on the property. The hill slopes toward the northwest which in 2003 any sort of ability to provide fruit with a cooler zone was a blessing.

There are just 4 barrels of this wine so all the fruit went into one fermenter. 50% of the fruit was left as whole cluster and then the rest of the fruit was destemmed on top of it. We do this in rare occasions when we are able to get complete ripeness of the fruit AND stems. This combination, especially with older vines, enhances the aromatics, texture and density of the wine making it at once fuller and more structured but also more precise, defined and elegant.

The wine is in 2 of our best new Cadus barrels and 2 one-year old Cadus barrels. Aside from displaying the sweetness and smokiness from the oak the wine has great aromatics of blackberries, raspberries, tar, tobacco and exotic spices. The wine is concentrated and full with tremendous length. This is a superb wine that will rank up with (above?) the Notorious (to be determined) for our top wine of the vintage. 94 cases bottled."