A Truly Rare Opportunity: The Eyrie Vineyards Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir Pre-Sale

Named for a longtime friend of the winery, Daphne Vineyard contains just 1.5 acres of Pinot Noir, planted to the Pommard clone beginning in 1974. The Pinot Noir vines sit approximately 820 to 860 feet above sea level, near the top of this dramatically elevated site. The vineyard’s soils are exceptionally shallow—averaging less than ten inches over large underlying boulders—which contributes to the wine’s distinctive intensity, mineral character and naturally limited yields.

Daphne is the highest of Eyrie’s estate Pinot Noir sites. Its elevation and exposed position bring cooler conditions and help preserve acidity, while the mature vines produce very small clusters of intensely flavored fruit. Eyrie farms its vineyards organically and employs regenerative, no-till practices intended to protect soil biology and allow each vineyard to express its individual character.

Eyrie’s restrained winemaking philosophy places vineyard character ahead of cellar technique. Native fermentation, gentle handling, minimal racking and extended élevage are used to preserve freshness, aromatic complexity and transparency of site. The approach produces wines that can be compelling when young while also developing beautifully over extended bottle age.

The 2023 Daphne Vineyard Pinot Noir is especially concentrated and expressive. Layers of raspberry, blueberry and marionberry are carried by lively acidity, while earthy and exotic savory notes bring additional complexity. Hints of mushroom, sassafras and sandalwood emerge as the wine opens, leading into a long, slowly unfolding finish.

Expert Rating

96 Points — Paul Gregutt

Gregutt describes the 2023 Daphne as showing terrific concentration, with raspberry, blueberry and marionberry fruit supported by energetic acidity and nuances of powdered mushroom, sassafras and sandalwood. He also emphasizes its lingering finish. Only 153 cases were produced, making this one of Eyrie’s most limited single-vineyard Pinot Noirs.

Powerful without sacrificing elegance, the 2023 Daphne Vineyard is a compelling expression of old-vine Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Its combination of concentrated fruit, vibrant acidity, mineral depth and savory complexity makes it particularly suited to further development in the cellar.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Daphne Vineyard
Clone: Pommard
Pinot Noir Plantings: Beginning in 1974
Pinot Noir Area: Approximately 1.5 Acres
Elevation: Approximately 820–860 Feet
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 153 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml

The 2023 Roland Green Vineyard Pinot Noir is a distinctive single-vineyard expression from The Eyrie Vineyards, combining the elegance and freshness associated with the Dundee Hills with a darker, more fruit-forward personality. Brambly blackberry fruit, savory undertones and firm, textured tannins give this limited-production Pinot Noir both immediate appeal and excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Named in honor of Roland Green Lett, the vineyard was first planted in 1988 to Pommard and Wädenswil Pinot Noir clones. The site rises from approximately 540 to 720 feet elevation and enjoys a direct southern exposure. Eyrie describes Roland Green as a site capable of producing Pinot Noir with exceptional texture, depth and finesse. More recent plantings, including vines established in 2016, complement the mature blocks and add an especially bright, fresh fruit character to the wine.

Like Eyrie’s other estate vineyards, Roland Green is certified organic and farmed according to regenerative, no-till principles. The winery focuses on maintaining healthy soil ecosystems and naturally balanced vines rather than relying on intensive intervention. The elevated, south-facing site and volcanic Dundee Hills soils contribute both ripeness and structural definition to the finished wine.

Eyrie’s single-vineyard Pinot Noirs are deliberately handled with a restrained cellar approach so that differences in vineyard site remain clearly visible. Native yeast fermentation, small fermentation vessels and extended élevage are central to the program, emphasizing texture, freshness and the individual character of each vineyard rather than overt winemaking influence.

The 2023 Roland Green is particularly expressive and fruit-driven, with brambly blackberry taking center stage. Compared with some of Eyrie’s more reserved vineyard selections, this vintage is somewhat more forward and immediately generous, while retaining the structure and savory character associated with the site. Dusty, textured tannins frame the dark fruit and provide a firm finish that should become increasingly integrated with additional bottle age.

Expert Rating

95 Points — Paul Gregutt

Gregutt highlights the influence of Roland Green’s younger vines, noting their bright, fresh fruit character. He describes the 2023 as more fruit-forward than some of Eyrie’s other vineyard selections, centered on brambly blackberry fruit with textured, dusty tannins that should soften further with time in bottle. Only 193 cases were produced.

With its combination of ripe dark fruit, freshness, firm structure and Dundee Hills elegance, the 2023 Roland Green Vineyard offers a particularly compelling expression of Eyrie’s vineyard-focused approach to Pinot Noir.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Roland Green Vineyard
Clones: Pommard & Wädenswil
Elevation: Approximately 540–720 feet
Exposure: South-facing
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 193 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml

The 2023 The Eyrie Pinot Noir comes from the historic vineyard where The Eyrie Vineyards began—one of the foundational sites of Oregon Pinot Noir. Complex, structured and remarkably elegant, this limited-production bottling captures the character of old vines and the distinctive volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills with exceptional clarity. The Eyrie is the winery’s original vineyard and home to the hawks that inspired the Eyrie label. Its seven acres of Pinot Noir were planted from the mid-1960s through 1974 with Wädenswil, Pommard and Upright clones.

Situated between approximately 260 and 410 feet in elevation, the vineyard faces south while rolling toward eastern and western exposures. Eyrie identifies this historic site as the original planting of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. All of Eyrie’s estate vineyards are certified organic and farmed using regenerative, no-till practices. The emphasis is on maintaining healthy soils and biological diversity while allowing the vines and individual vineyard sites to express themselves with minimal intervention.

The 2023 vintage began with a cold, dry early spring followed by substantial April rainfall. A warm, dry summer with cool nights provided steady ripening, while late-August rains refreshed the vines ahead of an exceptionally favorable September harvest. Eyrie describes the resulting wines as vivid and aromatic, with moderate alcohol and firm yet balanced structure.

In the cellar, The Eyrie Pinot Noir is fermented with native yeast in small 11-hectoliter open-top fermenters and punched down by hand twice daily. It completes native malolactic fermentation before aging for 14 months in a blend of cooperage incorporating approximately 19% new oak. Eyrie uses essentially the same vinification for its single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, allowing differences in site, vine age, elevation and exposure to remain at the forefront.

The 2023 The Eyrie is dense and compact while retaining the graceful character for which the estate is known. Layers of ripe berries are joined by citrus, savory herbs and earthy nuances. The palate is full and firm but beautifully balanced, with restrained oak allowing the purity of the fruit and vineyard character to dominate. It is already compelling with generous aeration, yet its concentration and structure point toward significant cellar potential.

Expert Rating

96 Points — Paul Gregutt: Gregutt describes the 2023 as a particularly strong expression of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, emphasizing its density, balance and tightly wound structure, along with a complex combination of berries, citrus, herbs and earth. He particularly notes the remarkably subtle influence of new oak and the purity of the underlying fruit. Only 236 cases were produced.

A compelling piece of Oregon wine history and an exceptionally distinctive Pinot Noir, The Eyrie combines old-vine depth with freshness, restraint and precision—a cellar-worthy expression of one of the Willamette Valley’s most historically important vineyard sites.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: The Eyrie
Clones: Wädenswil, Pommard & Upright
Elevation: Approximately 260–410 feet
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Fermentation: Native Yeast, Open-Top Fermenters
Aging: 14 Months, Approximately 19% New Oak
Alcohol: 13.98%
Production: 236 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml

The 2023 Outcrop Vineyard Pinot Noir is a beautifully focused and distinctive expression of the Dundee Hills, combining bright red fruit, savory complexity and the stony mineral character that defines this unique Eyrie estate vineyard.

Outcrop Vineyard takes its name from the ridge of underlying rock that runs perpendicular to the hillside. Situated above Eyrie’s historic original vineyard, the five-acre site ranges from approximately 280 to 360 feet in elevation and faces north-northeast. The vineyard is planted to the Wädenswil clone of Pinot Noir, with vines dating from the early 1980s through 2000. Despite its northern exposure, reflected warmth from the neighboring original Eyrie vineyard helps ripen the fruit while preserving freshness and aromatic detail.

Eyrie farms its estate vineyards organically and practices regenerative, no-till viticulture, with particular attention to soil health and biodiversity. The vineyard’s thin, rocky volcanic soils contribute to the distinctive mineral and savory personality of Outcrop Pinot Noir.

For the 2023 vintage, Eyrie’s single-vineyard Pinot Noirs were vinified using native yeast in small open-top fermenters, with hand punch-downs and native malolactic fermentation, followed by approximately 14 months of aging. The single-vineyard wines are deliberately produced using the same cellar approach so that differences in vineyard, elevation, exposure and vine age remain clearly expressed in the finished wines.

The 2023 Outcrop is notably precise and mineral-driven, opening with raspberries and pomegranate alongside blood orange and subtle red licorice. A distinctive stony, almost steely mineral quality runs through the wine, while tea-like tannins add savory structure and grip. Elegant in weight yet firmly structured, it balances vivid fruit with earthy complexity and a long, textured finish.

Expert Rating

95 Points — Paul Gregutt Gregutt highlights the wine’s rocky, mineral character, raspberry and pomegranate fruit, blood orange and red licorice, with substantial tea-toned tannins supporting the finish. Only 198 cases were produced.

An expressive, site-driven Oregon Pinot Noir that beautifully demonstrates Eyrie’s restrained winemaking philosophy and the individual personality of one of its historic Dundee Hills vineyards.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Outcrop Vineyard
Clone: Wädenswil
Elevation: Approximately 280–360 feet
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Fermentation: Native Yeast
Aging: Approximately 14 Months
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 198 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml

The 2023 Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir is a beautifully detailed expression of one of The Eyrie Vineyards’ distinctive estate sites in Oregon’s Dundee Hills. Delicate yet expressive, it combines bright red fruit, floral perfume, savory earth and fine mineral character with the graceful structure that has long defined Eyrie Pinot Noir.

Sisters Vineyard sits at approximately 220 to 330 feet elevation and takes its name from the three original “Pinot sisters” planted there: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. The Pinot Noir blocks include Pommard and Wädenswil clones, and the vineyard’s direct southern exposure helps produce wines known for their aromatic character and elegant balance. Eyrie farms its estate vineyards organically and employs regenerative, no-till farming practices designed to support healthy soils and vine biodiversity.

The 2023 growing season was dynamic, beginning with a cool, dry spring before substantial April rain and a warm, dry summer moderated by cool nights. Late-August rain refreshed the vines before an exceptionally favorable September harvest period. The resulting wines show vivid aromatics, moderate alcohol and firm but balanced structure.

In the cellar, the Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir is fermented with native yeasts in small open-top fermenters, punched down by hand twice daily and allowed to complete native malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 14 months in a mixture of cooperage, including approximately 19% new oak, allowing the character of the vineyard to remain at the forefront. Production was just 235 cases.

The wine is red-fruited, perfumed and finely textured, showing fresh red berries and subtle floral notes alongside orange peel, savory spice and earthy mineral nuances. Fresh acidity gives the light-to-medium-bodied palate energy and definition, while gently spicy tannins carry through a long, evolving finish.

Expert Rating

94 Points — James Suckling Red-fruited, delicate and perfumed. Light- to medium-bodied with fresh acidity, orange peel flavors and gently spicy tannins. The long finish evolves from bitter flowers to citrus to savory spices.

An elegant and highly expressive Oregon Pinot Noir, the 2023 Sisters Vineyard combines immediate aromatic appeal with enough freshness and structure to reward further time in the cellar.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Sisters Vineyard
Farming: Certified Organic
Fermentation: Native Yeast
Aging: 14 Months, Approximately 19% New Oak
Alcohol: 14.15%
Production: 235 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml