2017 “One” Pinot Noir - Ayres Vineyard & Winery

Sliced dark cherry, rose petal, fresh orange peel. Sweet raspberry, dry leaves, ripe strawberry. Subtle cardamom and ground allspice, chopped wood and brown mushroom. A juicy and lifted fruit-focused bouquet explodes with candied cranberry, blueberry, and pomegranate; appearing extremely young, fresh, and primary while displaying nice tension and distinctly adolescent charm. Forest floor, stems, and bud wood reveal first signs of earthy nuance but are largely masked behind the strikingly pure yet restrained fruit. Mild clove, vanilla, anise, and exotic spice complement a dusting of delicate seasoning that again is no match for the youthful and backward berry-filled attack. Solidly medium in body with soft tannin and a jolt of refreshing acidity that keeps this balanced and elegant wine quite tart and crunchy. Enjoyable to drink now but absolutely nowhere near its peak. This 2017 "One" Pinot Noir by Ayres Vineyard & Winery well made and age-worthy Willamette Valley red from Ribbon Ridge.

While Pinot Noir can often be consumed young it typically takes time for this grape's best wines to reach their most complete and complex form. This bottling, crafted by Ayres Vineyard & Winery using Pinot Noir sourced from their estate vineyard in the tiny Ribbon Ridge appellation, is a great example of a wine that is clearly destined for greatness with time in the cellar. Although actually quite delicious to drink now this barely 2 year old wine is clearly still in its infancy, and would be an ideal candidate for many years of cellar aging to allow it to blossom. Open a bottle now and then again in 5, 10, and 15 years to follow this wine's evolution into something truly special. Excellent job here by Ayres.