I’ve been buying iOTA Pelos Sandberg Vineyard (PSV) Pinot Noir ever since a few Berserker Days ago. I’ve noticed that Big Table Farm continues to buy PSV grapes year in, year out. One of these days I finally will get around to trying Big Table Farm’s PSV bottling. Will be fun to do a side-by-side tasting. 
1 Like
Sorry I didn’t see this when it was current, but I am also rooting for Folly of Man here. Before Aaron and Tracy were at Beaux Freres and Nicolas-Jay, respectively, they met when they were on my team at Adelsheim. If memory serves, Aaron started in 2010 or 2011 and Tracy in 2012. I’m getting too old to promise I remember that correctly.
What I can promise is that both had come to the valley with a real desire to learn and make great wines. Seeing former team members grow and develop into legit producers in their own right is even more satisfying than enjoying the wines we made together. I’m sure we’ll hear more from them in the future.
Cheers!
8 Likes
Found this pretty randomly - would you mind elaborating on the change they went through, esp on Bergstrom?
At one point, Josh Bergstrom said that Caroline told him to “Frenchify” the wines.
And when Mike Etzel Jr. took on the winemaking at Beaux Freres, he made the wines in a more elegant style. Mike Sr. had partners who preferred bigger wines (so the rumor goes) and Mikey had Bouchard as the new ownership partner.
I like the Beaux Freres wines that Mike Sr. made, especially with time in bottle, and I really like Mikey’s wines.
2 Likes
Thanks Marcus. Just opened Winery Block 2011 from Bergstrom, and it may be the best I had from them so far. I haven’t had their wine across vintages so I’m unsure if it’s before, after or in the middle of their stylistic change, though.
1 Like
I can’t speak for Bergstrom, but the Beaux Freres wines age effortlessly. Check IG @decanterberrytales. The BF wines were a bigger style, but mellow with age. That’s the magic. I have not tried any of the recent vintages…
1 Like
Both Beaux Freres and Bergstrom started dialing back the new and toasted oak a long time ago- maybe 15 years. Reputations, like wine, can last a long time. That goes for others too, like Archery Summit, that are usually not included in WB favorites.
That said, I’ve ceased buying any of the above to favor smaller producers.
2 Likes
2011 enforced stylistic changes on many producers whether they wanted to embrace it or not.
I’ve always felt Josh’s 2011s were some of the better wines made in the vintage. I believe that he was already in shifting style. He is also a proponent of 100% whole cluster wines, unless that’s changed recently, and is really focused on excellent farming.
1 Like
Trathen Hall is closing and Portland’s Avalon Wines (Northwest-wine.com) has a mixed case of their 2021’s at 60% off the original $50 price.
4 Likes
In for a case, stupid value and sad to see them closing up shop. Mixed case is Hyland, Ridgecrest, and La Colina, three amazing sites for 2021. If I wasn’t bursting at the seems I’d buy two.
2 Likes
I’m sorry to hear they’re closing. I always liked their wines, but I never bought a ton of them because I didn’t see the wines around a lot, and I don’t buy a lot of DTC. I guess I’m part of the problem, but there’s so many small wineries I try to support.
1 Like
I’m really sorry to hear this. I really liked the wines they were making.
2 Likes
Thumbs up for the last sentence in particular! There a a lot fo excellent wines coming out of the valley, it doesn’t make sense to just stick to the obvious choices. I have 1 customer who buys so much of my wine I wonder if he ever drinks annything else. I’m flattered, but even he should branch out more!
The Beaux Frères Chardonnay is also now quite good. They hired Damien Lapuyade back in 2023 (ex Evening Land) and the Chards have taken a big step up. I liked a lot of Mike Seniors old Chardonnays. They’re great with age but could see them being a bit clumsy early in their life.