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Eyrie Vineyards 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir
only 7 bottles remain
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Crafted by the late David Lett, the earliest and most renowned pioneer of Oregon winemaking
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This wine was originally released in 2000
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Aged in the cellars of Eyrie Vineyards and then ours
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Without question the very best example of mature Oregon Pinot Noir I've ever tasted
Share the love of friendship and family by sending a bottle of Eyrie Vineyards 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir to those you hold dear. Wines may be shipped wherever permitted by law and if you have ever received wine through the post you know the excitement it stirs. |
| Offer runs only while these last seven bottles remain... |
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"We couldn't believe our luck; twelve years on, this expressive Pinot Noir is drinking just as David Lett would have wished. It's as if a young Duke of Burgundy was raised from an early age in the calm comfort of a loving Oregon home combining all the breeding of its birthplace with the amicable charms of the Pacific Northwest."
Nicholas Livingston on tasting Eyrie Vineyards 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir | |
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Notes from the cellar
Perhaps our mothers were all wrong about keeping a tidy home. Our warehouse is a picture of tidy organization: thousands of different wines all rest quietly at a perfectly maintained temperature ideal for aging wine. And yet with rare exception, our stock seldom enjoys many years in this environment. We bring treasures in and you quickly squirrel them into your cellars to drink when you see fit. Many colleagues fear that our dear patrons pop corks before their wines have a chance to develop rare bouquets that only come after a decade in bottle -but who's to say there's a right time to drink any wine?
Many are built ready to go shortly after they ship. Some rare wines can age well over a decade and are all the better for it. An example of this enduring sort that evolves so well over time under glass is well made Pinot Noir. Imagine how thrilled we were when Ken stumbled upon a quietly resting cache of Eyrie Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir from 1998! Never before has an inventory oversight met such a warm response. | |
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Established in 1966 by David & Diana Lett, Eyrie Vineyards was the first in the Willamette Valley to plant the vinifera vines that yield the serious kind of wine that could compete with the old guard of Europe. How did these handcrafted wines fare in the international competitions that pitted Burgundy against America? In Paris in 1979 and Beaune in 1980, Eyrie Vineyards quickly earned a reputation for classic Pinot Noirs famous not only for their triumphs against renowned Burgundies but also their elegant finesse and telling complexity. | |
 As our story unfolds it also turns out the 1998 vintage may have been Oregon's greatest vintages for the vins de garde ideal for keeping combining depth of character with a lasting structure sure to develop over time. Too ripe, too young and a wine must be enjoyed right then and there. Given a ripe core and just enough acidity, a wine may evolve to greater heights. Wine Spectator praises 1998 as an outstanding vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir because they are both rich and classic.  Gathering around the table to glimpse at this time capsule of American history, we poured with baited breath. The color was deep garnet and sound; had it been tawny the color might betray this red had passed its prime. Aging can bring out the best but neglect so often steals that window of opportunity. Nosing the glass, we exhaled relief as all the sweet aromas relieved our fears. Swirling and sipping, we found the more air we gave, the more the wine gave. In tasting older vintages it is wise to be cautious about a wine's contact with oxygen because fine boned wines tend to wilt after a deep breath. As if stretching after a long rest, Eyrie Vineyards' 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir seemed more refreshed the more air it received. | |
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Wil was the first to speak, "Given blind I'd be very hard pressed to not to guess this as Burgundy. It's almost Garaudetish in quality -Pommard at its prime." Larry concurred and took our minds toward the all important topic of foods that would suit this so well. Fresh game hens from Clancy's Meat Market still come to mind and the mouth waters to picture them roasting gently while pulling a cork from this bottled history. Although David Lett passed on in 2008, he remains the world renowned wine maker who pioneered uncharted viticulture and his masterful touch lives on in the wines he graced. Seven bottles of Eyrie Vineyards 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir remain in our stock and though tempted to keep them to ourselves we realize we had our passing glimpse on American history and think it only right to share this rare opportunity with you. We've also reactivated 1998 pricing which means you can enjoy a bottle of this perfectly ripened Willamette Valley Pinot Noir at a low price.
$44 a bottle until these seven are history
The late David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards, great American pioneer
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