We started with this vineyard in 1994. It was more a blackberry patch with a theoretical vineyard in it than an actual vineyard. It was planted in 1985 but had quickly been mostly overrun. We farmed it and kept pushing the balance forward each vintage. 1998 was the first year we had to write them a check for the fruit and it was probably less than $3,000 total (from a 4.5 acre site) due to the past costs. They came with us when we left in 2000.
Ward Eason passed away in 2005. His wife eventually sold the house and vineyard to Jason Lett which was the absolute was possible resolution to the situation for both parties. We bottled it in 2000-2002, 2004-2008 and in 2010. It’s a funny site with 3 distinct plots within its small framework.
The 2000-2002, 2005. 2008 and 2010 were the best wines with the 2001 and 2008 likely being my favorites. It was a vineyard that produced perfumy and graceful, gentle wines that were clear and oft times very light in color. I still drive by it all the time to see Balcombe and Durant Vineyards. I have a bottle of the 1998.
Glad this still showed. I would think it would be doing well for several years.
A couple months ago a bunch of 2000s eason sold on winebid, picked up a couple bottles of 2000-2005 (based on Keith’s praise), drank one 2005 and it was wonderful.
Eyrie doesnt bottle this as a single, does it go into any other wines or just the estate?
General PGC question: which of the vineyards/bottlings tend in a pretty, floral, red-fruited direction (as opposed to a powerful, dark-fruited direction)?
Dundee Hills wines for sure so that includes Volcanic, Balcombe, both Durant bottlings and Weber. Hyland would also fit that. Estate Old Vine and Estate Wadensvil. La Belle Promenade Vineyard. Both Freedom Hill Dijon 115 and Wadensvil.
I opened my last bottle of 2008 Etzel Block last night. It was in fine form & worked well with our Pepperoni, Enochi, & Lion’s Mane pizza. To my tastes it still has years of life left in it…having said that, it was exactly the wine & experience I wanted last night.
It was one of my contribution’s to last nights monthly bottle share at the Cork Vault. It was some folks WOTN. I didn’t note all of the bottles last night, but there’s usually some heavy hitters including a few burgs. I did try the 2004 (?) Quilceda Creek and that was not my jam. 2008 Andrew Will Champoux was still very youthful.
2022 Freedom Hill Vyd. Pretty fierce and backward, even the second half of the bottle 24hrs later, but there’s good stuff behind the wall. Roses, black tea, raspberry, wet rocks, etc. Give this a long sleep!
I opened up a bottle and was able to do it blind for our guests. Some of them in the business. So fun to hear the comments. One person tasted blueberry but no one picked up on that. Opened this as the first wine of the evening with appetizers. Everyone enjoyed and asked for more once it was revealed.
