Retail $65. Under cork. Over a dozen years ago, I visited the Willamette Valley for the first time. Tucked neatly under my arm was a book by John Winthrop Haeger that chronicled the important wineries of the region and those that were a "must-visit." Among those listed in Mr. Haeger's "required reading" was none other than Ayres--a tiny outpost in the Ribbon Ridge appellation, which, at least at the time, was selling their wares out of the garage just below the winery. Whoa. Now? Several years beyond the vintage? What a performance: great fruit, zingy tartness, and an off-the-charts verve factor.
Nose is slightly sweet and smokey. Medium dry in the mouth, smooth tannins with good firmness. Complex flavors of cherry, cranberry, wet oak with a hint of flower petals and tea on the back end.
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This is pretty lively still. Tannins are bold and the fruit is plenty bold as well. Decant, decant, decant. Medium dry, long finish. Excited to see how it evolves further in a few years.
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this bottle sat on the counter for a couple of weeks unopened. the first night opened it was nothing spectacular - a let down. the second night, the flavors were in full dance costume ... a tasty dance for sure, and very enjoyable. wish i would have opened it one night and left it until the next night
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Back for another visit. Much more mature this time: Same strawberry nose, strawberry in the mouth fading quickly towards the remnants of graham cracker flavor, finishing nicely with good earthiness. Really enjoyed this.
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9/16/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 95 Points
Retail $65. Under cork. Over a dozen years ago, I visited the Willamette Valley for the first time. Tucked neatly under my arm was a book by John Winthrop Haeger that chronicled the important wineries of the region and those that were a "must-visit." Among those listed in Mr. Haeger's "required reading" was none other than Ayres--a tiny outpost in the Ribbon Ridge appellation, which, at least at the time, was selling their wares out of the garage just below the winery. Whoa. Now? Several years beyond the vintage? What a performance: great fruit, zingy tartness, and an off-the-charts verve factor.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/16/2019 - onthenose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose is slightly sweet and smokey. Medium dry in the mouth, smooth tannins with good firmness. Complex flavors of cherry, cranberry, wet oak with a hint of flower petals and tea on the back end.
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4/22/2018 - onthenose Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is pretty lively still. Tannins are bold and the fruit is plenty bold as well. Decant, decant, decant. Medium dry, long finish. Excited to see how it evolves further in a few years.
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7/29/2015 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 91 Points
this bottle sat on the counter for a couple of weeks unopened. the first night opened it was nothing spectacular - a let down. the second night, the flavors were in full dance costume ... a tasty dance for sure, and very enjoyable. wish i would have opened it one night and left it until the next night
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2/9/2014 - oropeza Likes this wine: 91 Points
Back for another visit. Much more mature this time: Same strawberry nose, strawberry in the mouth fading quickly towards the remnants of graham cracker flavor, finishing nicely with good earthiness. Really enjoyed this.
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