Eyrie Vineyards "Trousseau" Willamette Valley, OR 2021

FROM THE PRODUCER:

THE WINE: Eyrie’s Jason Lett and crew planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau noir in 2012. The vividly red wine has aromas of dark berries, loam, and baking spices. Acidity and smoothness are perfectly balanced on the palate, with evolving flavors of herbs and fruits such as blackberry, pomegranate, and rhubarb. Light tannins combine with a precise, long finish to suggest promising ageability

Trousseau is an ancient variety, originating in France’s Jura region and centered in the hillside village of Montigny-les-Arsures. In 2012, inspired by these wines, Jason Lett planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau. Our Trousseau is made from estate-grown, no-till organic grapes and transformed to juice by wild yeast. It aged in neutral oak puncheons for 10 months. We strive to make a Trousseau that’s the truest expression of the fruit. That’s why we’ve chosen to not fine or filter this wine, and to bottle it with moderate levels of sulfur.

THE PRODUCER: Eyrie founder David Lett was convinced that the climate of the Willamette Valley was potentially perfect for growing Pinot noir. At the tender age of 24, with a degree in viticulture, another in philosophy, and eight months of intensive research in European wine regions behind him, David Lett headed for Oregon. He left California with little more than 3000 grape cuttings and a firm conviction that Oregon’s Willamette Valley would be the best home for Pinot noir and Chardonnay outside of Burgundy.

On February 22 1965, David established the modern era of winegrowing in the Willamette Valley when he planted his first vines. David was soon joined by his new wife Diana, and together they planted and expanded their estate on a former orchard in the Dundee Hills. Their plantings focused on the first Pinot noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley, but also the first Pinot gris commercially planted outside of Europe, and other cool climate varieties.

The cellar ecosystem is an important contributor to our winemaking. We let fermentations proceed naturally and slowly. We incorporate traditional techniques, like native yeast fermentations in reds, skin contact on whites, and full natural malolactic to promote the most complex expression of our varieties.

This means minimal racking, extended lees contact, complete and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, no fining, and minimal filtration. This gentle treatment creates wines that are both approachable when young, and legendary for their ability to further unfold with age in the cellar – often for decades.

“Sustainability” wasn’t part of the wine industry vernacular back in 1965. Our founders David and Diana just felt it was the right approach to business and farming. Since the planting of the first vine, Eyrie has farmed deep. Our vineyards have never used herbicides, pesticides, tillage or irrigation. We take organic certification as merely the first step, and then we build on it.