2010 Beaux Freres, Pinot Noir “The Beaux Freres Vineyard” Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
I really have high expectations of Beaux Freres, so given that, I was blown away with the 2010 Beaux Freres, from a difficult vintage it shines with quality and class and might be the wine of the vintage from Oregon. While after dire predictions, the 2010 wines from the Willamette Valley have for the most part turned out very well, but the 2010 Beaux Freres is clearly in a league of it’s own with depth and beauty not found in many of the wines. There is something unique to Mike Etzel’s Ribbon Ridge site and there is a terroir character that shows through, with it being pure and biodynamic to core brings out a sense of place that is always present in the wine. I have been lucky enough to have had a chance to walk the vineyards and get my own feel of the place, it is a remarkable piece of land and the wines reflect that. The 2010 Beaux Freres Vineyard starts with smoke, flinty mineral and rose petals with hints of pepper, anise and red currants which lead to a palate that is refined and silky smooth, while retaining energy and vibrancy with blackberry, cherry and spiced plum fruits the driving force throughout. The background has sweet and savory elements with creamy oak, saline, wild flowers, earthy loam, more flinty/mineral spice, chalk and the finish is sublime and lengthy persistent. Drink this amazing wine now through 2018, though I might think it will go another decade easy.
($80 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive