North America | Oregon | Eyrie Vineyards | Sisters Pinot Noir

Sisters Pinot Noir

VARIETAL
Pinot Noir

NOTES
VINEYARD: Sisters. Planted in 1987 and originally named after the three Pinot Sisters: Pinot noir, blanc and gris, this 21 acre site now hosts 8 varieties and is used as Eyrie's station for exploring new root-stocks, varieties, and clones. The vines for the Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir are ungrafted pre-phylloxera plantings. The four acres of Pinot Noir here, planted in 1987 to Pommard and Wadenswil clones, often carry a flowery scent on top of earth and fruit. The elevation runs from 220’ at the bottom to 330’ at the top, and the exposure is directly south. This is Eyrie's lowest elevation vineyard at 220'.

VINIFICATION: De-stemmed and fermented using all natives yeasts in a combination of tank and barrel. Minimal racking, no fining or filtering. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, 12% new. 2016 started off with a warm, wet March, and continued with warmer than average temperatures throughout the spring and summer. Fortunately, the extra water early in the year prevented the vines from experiencing drought stress in the summer. As the warm summer progressed, Eyrie prepared for a harvest more than a month ahead of what they consider normal. In September, just as harvest started, moderate temperatures moved in. With cooler weather, fruit ripened at a leisurely pace. This provided winemakers an unhurried opportunity to choose their fruit for perfect ripeness.

TASTING NOTES: The most delicate and floral of all of the single vineyard Pinot Noirs with finesse and earth tones.

PRESS/RATINGS: This has a very expressive and delicately perfumed nose with strawberries, cherries and red peaches, as well as some meaty nuances. The palate has a smoothly defined feel with a supple, blue-cherry core. Plush and even. Drink or hold.
-- James Suckling 93