Wine Article
2021 The Eyrie Vineyards Chardonnay Estate
Last edited on 5/1/2024 by LindsayM
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Eyrie’s Chardonnay story reinforces the visionary nature of its founder, David Lett. When planting Chardonnay back in 1964, he eschewed what he saw as unsuitable clones from UC Davis, choosing instead mass-selection cuttings from old vines (Draper clone, planted in the 1890s and 1930s) in California that he felt better suited to Oregon’s cooler climate. Unsurprisingly, his foresight has paid off, and Eyrie now boasts some of Oregon's oldest and most revered Chardonnay vine material. Since 2015, he has included a small portion of fruit from mass-selection vines (Wente clone and Sterling clone) planted in Sisters Vineyard in the foundational Eyrie Vineyard base.
THE WINE
The 2021 vintage marks the sixth year that Eyrie Chardonnay includes both the Draper selection from The Eyrie vineyard but also heritage clones planted at Sisters Vineyard in the Dundee Hills.
DIVERSITY Two clones, one selection massale, and a five-decade span of vine ages contribute to a diverse and complex expression of Chardonnay.
61% DRAPER SELECTION - 57 YEAR OLD VINES, ORIGINAL VINEYARD
This is a massale selection made by David Lett in 1964 from old vines in California. Clusters and vines show a range of shapes and berry sizes.
26% WENTE CLONE - 8 YEAR OLD VINES, SISTERS VINEYARD Wente is related to the sam 1882 importation from France that sired the Draper selection. Wente is typified by open clusters with "hens and chicks" berry sizes.
13% STERLING CLONE - 8 YEAR OLD VINES, SISTERS VINEYARD Sterling is another heritage clone originating from a California vineyard near the site of the Draper Selection. Intensely aromatic, with compact cluster and even berry sizes.
THE VITICULTURE & VINIFICATION Both estate vineyard sites are 100% certified organic and picked by hand. The grapes were pressed in a combination of antique basket press and Champagne cycle press. Juice was run to neutral French oak barrels, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged on the lees for 11 months without stirring, and bottled with a light filtration.
THE VINTAGE
The weather pattern of 2021 was determined by warmer than normal temps and long dry spells punctuated by short rains. Bud break occurred in early April, a few weeks ahead of schedule, and the vines stayed ahead of schedule from there on out. Mixed rains and heat spikes in June decreased yields, while July and August stayed warm and dry. Early September introduced a change in temperature pattern that brought balance to the vintage. Low night-time temperatures preserved the fragile acidity of the grapes, and cool mornings allowed the sugars to rise slowly while flavors developed. Picking commenced on September 10th and concluded October 1. The 2021 wines taste dynamic and interesting already, a true reflection of the year.
average vine age 24 years
estate Vineyards sisters and the Eyrie
Vineyard certification organic
fermentation and ageing native yeast French oak barrels 5% new for native milo 11 months, sur lie
bottling date September 2022
production in cases 500
pH 3.49
Total acidity 5g/l
alc 13%
THE WINE
The 2021 vintage marks the sixth year that Eyrie Chardonnay includes both the Draper selection from The Eyrie vineyard but also heritage clones planted at Sisters Vineyard in the Dundee Hills.
DIVERSITY Two clones, one selection massale, and a five-decade span of vine ages contribute to a diverse and complex expression of Chardonnay.
61% DRAPER SELECTION - 57 YEAR OLD VINES, ORIGINAL VINEYARD
This is a massale selection made by David Lett in 1964 from old vines in California. Clusters and vines show a range of shapes and berry sizes.
26% WENTE CLONE - 8 YEAR OLD VINES, SISTERS VINEYARD Wente is related to the sam 1882 importation from France that sired the Draper selection. Wente is typified by open clusters with "hens and chicks" berry sizes.
13% STERLING CLONE - 8 YEAR OLD VINES, SISTERS VINEYARD Sterling is another heritage clone originating from a California vineyard near the site of the Draper Selection. Intensely aromatic, with compact cluster and even berry sizes.
THE VITICULTURE & VINIFICATION Both estate vineyard sites are 100% certified organic and picked by hand. The grapes were pressed in a combination of antique basket press and Champagne cycle press. Juice was run to neutral French oak barrels, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged on the lees for 11 months without stirring, and bottled with a light filtration.
THE VINTAGE
The weather pattern of 2021 was determined by warmer than normal temps and long dry spells punctuated by short rains. Bud break occurred in early April, a few weeks ahead of schedule, and the vines stayed ahead of schedule from there on out. Mixed rains and heat spikes in June decreased yields, while July and August stayed warm and dry. Early September introduced a change in temperature pattern that brought balance to the vintage. Low night-time temperatures preserved the fragile acidity of the grapes, and cool mornings allowed the sugars to rise slowly while flavors developed. Picking commenced on September 10th and concluded October 1. The 2021 wines taste dynamic and interesting already, a true reflection of the year.
average vine age 24 years
estate Vineyards sisters and the Eyrie
Vineyard certification organic
fermentation and ageing native yeast French oak barrels 5% new for native milo 11 months, sur lie
bottling date September 2022
production in cases 500
pH 3.49
Total acidity 5g/l
alc 13%