The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier | 2022

You can’t discuss the impact of Willamette Valley without running into the name, Lett. David Lett, founder of Eyrie, died in 2008, but his son, Jason, keeps their legacy relevant. Since taking over as winemaker in 2005, Jason has introduced new grapes, wild yeast fermentations, biodynamic farming, and library releases. His father’s hardcore soil-to-glass fundamentals haven’t budged, and in classic Lett fashion, these wines are unapologetically Willamette, letting the vines, their foggy surroundings, and the quirks of each vintage tell its version. Meunier means miller in French, a nod to the flour-like dusting on its leaves. Like Pinot Noir, it loves a cool climate and steers towards red fruit. But in the glass, it talks differently: more flowers, plump acidity, and a little tutti-frutti. Think Pinot Noir with a splash of Riesling personality.

After distribution shuffles, we’re delighted that this limited bottling is back in Florida. The new release comes from the organically farmed Daphne and Sisters vineyards with the family’s estate of the Dundee Hills. The Willamette Valley’s 2022 vintage was a comeback story. Spring frost threatened yields, and a cold, wet start pushed the season behind schedule. Then fall came to the rescue with warm, dry days giving the grapes an extra cushion of ripening time, with Eyrie harvesting its last Meunier vines on October 21! The result is extraordinary: concentrated flavor that floats across the palate. Destemmed and aged in neutral French oak, it’s an Oregon forest, with its rain-soaked earth, tall trees, and pastel flowers, then a blood orange acid crush sends you straight back for another sip. One of the best expressions of Pinot Meunier, anywhere. ~Allegra Angelo