2012 Beaux Freres, Pinot Noir, The Beaux Freres Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Still young and showing sweet/smoky wood upfront the new Beaux Freres is still a classic and will be a total rockstar wine, given the vintage and the history here there is no doubt in my mind this beautiful blockbuster Pinot will end up one of the best ever from this Ribbon Ridge estate. The 2012 Beaux Freres shows richness, texture, balance and lavish hedonistic pleasures with blackberry, plum, mocha, dark cherry and tangy currants in the mouth with stylish polish, silky tannins and enough lift from juicy acidity to remain focused and lively. There’s hints of cinnamon, vanilla, cedar and finny minerals as well as some dried roses, violets and touch of tea and red spice. The fruit and new wood are very forward at this stage and it might close down a little in the short term, but this is a magnificent wine of density and grace that will just get better and better in bottle if you have the time and patience, this Pinot should be your cellar, don’t miss it, especially if you are an Oregon fan, or a Pinot enthusiast, this is the real deal. Mike Etzel and team deserve all their successes and rewards for their hard work, and this is just one of many glories from this great American winery, stunning, drink from 2018 to 2024.
($80 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive
