Our Wine Choice this week is an elegant and savory pinot noir from Oregon, the Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge The Beaux Frères Vineyard 2021. While some may remember 2021 for being a dramatic growing season that saw record-high temperature spikes, these mostly occurred well before the final stages of ripening and harvest (see our Oregon Annual Tasting Report). And so many of the 2021 Oregon pinot noirs we have tasted retain the freshness, purity and minerality that are hallmarks of Oregon wines. 2021 is certainly a welcome change from the reduced number of bottlings from the smoke-affected 2020 vintage.
The eponymous Beaux Freres Vineyard is home to Beaux Freres’ oldest pinot noir vines, planted in 1988. This vineyard comprises south-facing slopes, at around 400 feet (121 meters) elevation, in the Ribbon Ridge appellation. It’s Oregon’s smallest AVA, nestled within the Chehalem Mountains in Willamette Valley – only about 500 acres are planted on a ridge that is distinguished by its ancient ocean sedimentary soils.
I first tasted the 2021 Beaux Freres Vineyard early last year in Oregon as a new release, when it was tight and “somewhat restrained.” After another year in bottle, however, it has opened up and was drinking beautifully when I uncorked a bottle this week. The red fruit aromatics come through more, alongside the savory-olive and spicy-licorice notes, and the palate is silky, cool and elegant, with a more mineral finish. It should reward even more time in the cellar, too.
– Claire Nesbitt, Associate Editor
