The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Daphne Vineyard 2017

If the Dundee Hills had a high altar, it would likely be Daphne Vineyard. Planted in 1974 at the very top of the Eyrie estate, this site sits at an elevation that keeps it cool, airy, and perpetually elegant. While many 2017s from Oregon are showing their muscles, the Daphne remains a study in tension and lace.

This isn’t a wine that shouts; it’s a wine that whispers with incredible authority. On the nose, you get that classic Eyrie wildness—think dried rose petals, Chantenay carrots, and a dusting of white pepper.

The 2017 vintage at Eyrie is hitting a beautiful sweet spot right now. It has shed its youthful austerity but retains a vibrant, electric core. Jason Lett continues his father’s legacy of non-interventionist winemaking here, allowing the high-elevation fruit to express a savory, brambly complexity that is rare to find outside of the finest corners of the Côte de Nuits.