Beaux Freres 2015 Pinot Noir, Zena Crown Vyd., Willamette Valley

Perhaps the most collectible Pinot Noir in America, Beaux Freres has set a standard that few can match. While on vacation in 1986, Michael Etzel came upon an 88-acre farm for sale located on Ribbon Ridge in the Northern Willamette Valley. After some deliberation, Michael purchased the farm with his brother-in-law, world famous wine critic, Robert Parker, Jr. Michael began his focused pursuit by planting only Pinot Noir and slowly transforming the old farm into his jewel. While planting his own vineyard, Michael worked four harvests at Ponzi Winery. In 1990, Michael harvested his first crop and sold the grapes, except enough to make one barrel, to winemakers Ken Wright and Dick Ponzi. In 1991, a renovation of one of the barns led to the creation of Beaux Frères Winery and the beginning of a cult classic. This year they celebrated the release of their 25th vintage. 2015 was the second outstanding vintage in a row in Oregon's Willamette Valley. This wine is from the Zena Crown Vineyard which is highly regarded for its excellence and distinctiveness. Zena Crown Vineyard is surrounded by the vineyards of Bethel Heights, Cristom and St. Innocent wineries, and sits adjacent the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range that funnels cold Pacific winds into the Eola- Amity Hills. The result is small berries with thick skins, structured tannins, buoyant acidity, and slow ripening, with the region consistently the last to be harvested each vintage in the Willamette Valley. 2015 was an outstanding vintage in the Willamette Valley and this wine aged 10-12 months in French oak barrels shows layered complexity with exotic spice notes blueberry, black cherry, hints of minerals and smoke with a deep concentrated core. The flavors linger on the finish. This will age beautifully over the next 2-4 years.