$74.99 with shipping included on 6 bottles or more

We first visited Beaux Freres back in the early 1990s when it was still a very small struggling winery with a blossoming cult-like following for its scintillating, ground-breaking wines. Founder Michael Etzel, along with a not insignificant investment from his brother-in-law wine critic Robert Parker (hence the name Beaux Freres- a French nickname for brother in law), had carved out his first vineyard on the property, once a pig farm, back in 1988, and sold his first crops of grapes to the likes of Dick Ponzi and Ken Wright. When the first B-F wines hit the market, though, it was to a thunderous ovation. They were deep, aromatic, intense and cerebral versions of Oregon Pinot Noir and we all couldn’t get enough of them! And, despite the fact that Michael Sr. stepped back in 2017 and sold a controlling share of the company to the folks that also own Champagne Henriot, Beaux Freres, now under the winemaking guidance of Michael’s son Mikey, continues to be at the top of their game. Even more so, arguably, since the financial worries of the old days are behind them. While Beaux Freres continue to fashion several Estate wines that set a very high bar, it’s their blended Willamette Valley cuvee, sourced maybe 10% from the estate and the rest from top growers around the area, that really shows what we love so much about the Beaux Freres style. In 2022, a vintage whose production was slashed by frost early in the season, that’s a sinewy, highly nuanced Pinot Noir, long on its baking spice and dried citrus aromatics and with a texture offering up a velvety touch of something like Volnay in its DNA. Not weighty but not at all light, it’s a seductive Oregon Pinot that evolves a lot as it opens in the glass. Bright, lifted and complex, this has the stuffing and great acidity to stand up to the richest lamb, duck or beef preparations and the balance to last for many years in the cellar. Like discovering an old friend! 

Decanter: Eight vineyards comprise the Beaux Frères Willamette Valley bottling, with 8% coming from the estate vineyards. It was a vintage that started cool and then finished quickly. The Beaux Frères estate was very impacted by the frost, so much of the fruit is coming from secondary buds. The Willamette Valley bottling shows such freshness and bright fruit with tart cranberry aromatics balanced by a squeeze of blood orange and dusty red brambles. The finish is tart and fresh, with mint framing the delicate red berries, violet florals and tart Montmorency cherries. Delightful. (Drink between 2024-2033) 94 points

James Suckling: This shows spicy and walnuty character to its red fruit, with dried citrus peel and crushed stone. Medium-bodied, juicy, racy, vivid and electrifying. Minerally and agile. Drink now or hold. 94 points

WS 94