Community Tasting Note

• oldwines Likes this wine: 92 points

  August 22, 2017 - Tasted at the winery. I found this single vineyard a little less complex and less earthy and more fruity than the Outcrop Vineyard which I tasted right before, though another reviewer noted it was quite complex and layered. It is a similar light to medium ruby color to the Outcrop with mostly roses, strawberry and violets on the nose and palate. Good acidity, again it seems less structured than the Outcrop, though it is still age worthy and a very fine wine.

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4 Comments

• MattMauldin commented:

  9/4/17, 10:29 PM - They weren't pouring the Outcrop the day I visited, would love to try it. These new single vineyard wines from Eyrie are exciting stuff...

• oldwines commented:

  9/5/17, 4:39 AM - Sorry, I didn't get that right, MattMauldin...but I agree they are making some very nice wines. I am a little conflicted on the seemingly unlimited expansion of single vineyard bottlings across the industry. I understand the need to make money in the business (they get a lot more for a small ruction single vineyard wine even if it's not appreciably better) and need to keep the "Wine Club" members happy (who want something exclusive for their loyalty) but like in Burgundy, if everybody makes such small quantities of single vineyard wines, it becomes impossibly complex for the consumer outside of the given region (who can't readily visit each winery) to understand it all. Not to mention be able to afford or find them at retail. The beauty of Bordeaux (larger area under vine, I know) and why everyone worldwide understands it, usually start drinking wine with Bordeaux and can buy good wine at all price points, is they each put almost all the best fruit into the same flagship wine. No one has to figure out which "Chateau Petrus" they are drinking...I understand both approaches but the single vineyard model "run amok" (with wineries producing 6,8,10 or more single vineyard wines from the same grape varietal/s...which seems to be the trend) is not very consumer friendly on a national/global scale.
  
  Cheers!
  
  "oldwines" aka Dave
  
  dtpwineadvisors.com

• MattMauldin commented:

  9/5/17, 8:41 PM - Dave that's an interesting point and I agree that some wineries make way too many small lot/single vineyard wines. In Eyrie's case though, I think Sisters Vineyard does a nice job offering quality above their appellation wine on a level with Original Vines Reserve but at a much lower price than the OVR. So in that way, this example really works for me! Cheers-

• oldwines commented:

  9/6/17, 7:10 AM - Matt, Agreed... I didn't mean to imply that The Eyrie Vineyards is a a notable example in producing too many single vineyards. But it does seem to be another trend in the Wine industry that is getting a little out of control.

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