New world Pinot Noir

For several years I have been leaving outside the old world continent, the great Europe.
I have been exposed to several wines from Australia due I'm leaving here, also wines from New Zealand and lately USA and South Africa and some South America.
International variety I will said the classic French grapes acting quite well in the countries just mention, but one of those I really find interesting is the Pinot Noir. Central Otago in New Zealand seems by the press one of the best example outside of Burgundy, as a region is divide in sub zone with different altitude and exposition. My preference sub zone is the Wanaka area with vines planted around the homonymous lake; another great region is the Sonoma in California especially with Russian River Valley AVA and Sonoma Coast AVA.
however there are two Pinot Noir I have been very in love with:

The first one is the Eyre Vineyards from Oregon in Willamette Valley in the little sub zone Dundee Hill AVA. 
The Eyre Vineyards was found in 1966 by David Lett which planted the first vineyard of Pinot Noir in the Red Hills of Dundee south west of Portland ... In 1975 David Lett produce the first American Pinot Noir able to compete with the great Burgundy. 
Jason Lett is the currently winemaker; since day one organic farming has been adopted in the house.
The property is divide into 5 different lieu dit "Daphne" "Roland Green" "Outcrop" "Eyre" and "Sister".
Each of them are bottling separately as a single cru; 
the one I had the pleasure to drunk lately is the "Original" cuvee which is the Eyre vineyard the first to be planted in 1966. 
An elevation of 260 meter above sea level, the Pommard is the clone used in this vineyard, south east-west facing and this according to their website is the first original planting of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley region in Oregon. 

The vintage was 2013 
the colour was a medium ruby colour a Nuits Saint George intensity, very vivid.
Cherry and red plum through nose and palate very juice on the nose with a beautiful core of sanguign minerality, palate had a lovely intensity with complexity and refreshing acidity, savoury and tight ..
Undertone of forest floor with great length (a lovely bottle).... The one you don't want to finish ....

Sometimes Burgundy can be parking on the side very few times ... This for me was one of those.. 



look at their website they are pretty good to understand the amount of detail and work there are in this wines 
http://eyrievineyards.com 

Also try to follow them in the social forum is quite constructive 

https://www.instagram.com/eyrievineyards/

NEXT TIME THE SECOND BEST PINOT NOIR OUTSIDE Burgundy 

pics below Bass Philip from Gipsland GI In the state of Victoria Australia



https://www.facebook.com/eyrie.vineyards/

Best

Raf 

Drinking and listening sculpture sound: Abruzzo & Melbourne
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wine / spirit / lambic / drinker









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