The nose of the 2010 Eyrie Original Vines Reserve Chardonnay throws me a bit, hence only 8.9 points. Opens with pitched notes of coffee grounds, an aroma I strongly associate with some malolactic strains, roasted nuts, toast and a touch of lemon zest. It feels somewhat closed, there isn’t a lot of fruit here, one has to dig to unearth subtle notes of Valencia orange and unripened pear. To its credit, there is nice texture and dimension, improved by minerally wet shell notes, and acidic lilt on the finish.
The nose of the 2010 Eyrie Original Vines Reserve Chardonnay throws me a bit, hence only 8.9 points. Opens with pitched notes of coffee grounds, an aroma I strongly associate with some malolactic strains, roasted nuts, toast and a touch of lemon zest. It feels somewhat closed, there isn’t a lot of fruit here, one has to dig to unearth subtle notes of Valencia orange and unripened pear. To its credit, there is nice texture and dimension, improved by minerally wet shell notes, and acidic lilt on the finish.
May 13th, 2015
Fantastic. At least as great as any grand cru white Burgundy I've had in recent memory. The only reason it's not a dead ringer for something super-fancy in the Puligny environs is that it is, if anything, even more finessed (and not premoxed). It has all the crystalline purity but the material is so gentle it's not only seamless but edgeless, a real zen garden of a wine. It is bright and instantly cleansing but isn't depending on screeching acidity for that effect, instead it's as calm and serene as still water. But gentle does not mean light or lean. It is very expressive of the fruit, very typical chardonnay flavors here with just a touch of flint though with the mineral element getting much, much stronger in the leftovers a few days later, at which point the grand cru Puligny personality is positively uncanny.
Fantastic. At least as great as any grand cru white Burgundy I've had in recent memory. The only reason it's not a dead ringer for something super-fancy in the Puligny environs is that it is, if anything, even more finessed (and not premoxed). It has all the crystalline purity but the material is so gentle it's not only seamless but edgeless, a real zen garden of a wine. It is bright and instantly cleansing but isn't depending on screeching acidity for that effect, instead it's as calm and serene as still water. But gentle does not mean light or lean. It is very expressive of the fruit, very typical chardonnay flavors here with just a touch of flint though with the mineral element getting much, much stronger in the leftovers a few days later, at which point the grand cru Puligny personality is positively uncanny.
Apr 13th, 2016
Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
