The Wines

 

EIEIO & Company began in 1995 with Jay McDonald (EIEIO) and several Oregon winemakers (& Company) that Jay represented at The Tasting Room in Carlton.  What began as a purely négociant, 200 case pursuit has grown into a fully bonded 1,500 case operation.  To date, EIEIO & Co produces seven Pinot Noirs; three cuvees - Cuvee E, Cuvee I, and Blackburn Reserve, and five single vineyard designates - Broadley Vineyard (Monroe, OR), Canary Hill Vineyard (Salem, OR), Meredith Mitchell (McMinnville, OR), Stermer Vineyard (Carlton, OR), and Wind Hill (Banks, OR).  Each wine is unique and distinctive.  2006 marks the first vintage of EIEIO & Company Chardonnay- Cuvee E and Cuvee I.  Two different styles, each is good and not just for white wine.

NEW RELEASES - 2006

Chardonnay - Cuvee E
Small barrel ferments of 70 percent stainless steel and 30 percent New French Oak creates a more traditional style of Chardonnay.  The warmer vineyard sites provided riper fruit which easily stood up to the new oak barrel regime.  The result is a completely balanced Chardonnay with fruit, oak and acidity.  In addition each barrel was inoculated with a different type of yeast (two barrels underwent a native yeast fermentation) which had a profound affect upon the wine and made for infinite blending trials.

Full of fresh yellow peach, hints of almond oil, coconut and exotic spice.  Aromatics lead through to the flavors with subtle undertones of sandal wood, maple brown sugar, and meringue.  Ever so slightly more unctuous than the Cuvee I, this is a great cocktail style Chardonnay.

Chardonnay - Cuvee I
Cuvee I is more texture driven than fruit driven wine.  Expressive aromatics of white flowers, white stone peach and wet river rock lead to subtle flavors of Asian (nashi) pear, wet slate, and honeysuckle on the finish.   Great texture with subtle complexities that all result in one seamless Chardonnay. 

 

 

Pinot Noir - Cuvee E
Primarily consisting of Ribbon Ridge Appellation fruit, this wine has a wide range of flavors.  Initially aromatics show intense blue and red fruits with a bit of funk.  With time aromas of dusty blackberries and intriguing hoisin sauce intermingle with flavors of wild strawberries and sweet black cherry, and fresh Chanterelle mushrooms.  More familiar cherry notes, raspberry and mocha emerge with food.  Smooth on the palate with a reasonable tannic and acid structure underneath.

Pinot Noir - Cuvee I
Color is clear and deep and I swear it sparkles.  Delicate and dusty aromatics give the impression that the wine will be restrained, but flavors indicate otherwise. Initially intense black and red cherry intertwine with cinnamon sugar covered graham crackers.  Explosions of stone fruits hit the mid-palate and add another layer of more earthy flavors ranging from wet concrete to freshly turned soil.  The finish has a density showing fresh pipe tobacco, wild raspberry and blueberry compote around a core of dried cherries.  While initially the wine is deep and brooding, the lively acidity is balanced against structured tannins and results in a seemingly never ending finish. 

2005 EIEIO & Company — Classic Oregon Pinot noir

In a vintage that many are deeming “perfect” EIEIO & Company has produced six stellar Pinot Noirs that contain beautifully structured acidity, optimal ripeness, ideal flavor profiles and lower alcohol levels - all the elements for a classic Oregon Pinot noir.

EIEIO & Company 2005 Cuvee E – SOLD OUT This wine truly is a little bit of everything. Primarily consisting of Chehalem Mountain fruit which consists of three different soil types; basaltic, ocean sedimentary, and loess (blown lake sediment), this wine has a wide range of flavors. Beginning with bright spice notes, blue fruit and intense blackberry jam, intriguing undertones of charred black-pepper-rubbed filet mignon emerge with time. Aromatics carry through to flavors of wild Maine blueberries, blackberries with astringent seeds, sweet black cherry, and fresh mushrooms. With food and air, the wine reveals more familiar cherry notes, raspberry and mocha. It is smooth on the palate with a reasonable tannic structure underneath. The Pinot noir for everyday enjoyable drinking.

EIEIO & Company 2005 Blackburn Reserve - SOLD OUT
Earthy mushroom aromatics with hints of spruce evolve into blackberry jam, cinnamon and nutmeg. A dense weave of black peppercorns, fresh tobacco, wild raspberry and blueberry compote and vanilla intertwine around an intense core of dried cherries. While initially the wine is deep and brooding, the lively acidity is balanced against structured tannins and results in good length of finish. One of the most interesting observations is how consistent this wine is;flavors that were apparent at time of harvest through fermentation and aging are similar to that in the bottle. A cellar worthy wine which will reward the patient.

EIEIO & Company 2005 Broadley Vineyard
A full palette of classic Pinot noir aromas leap from the glass; red and black cherry, plum and blackberry are followed by cassis, orange peel and distinctive hints of sassafras and cola. The wine tastes of chocolate covered cherries with a hint of anise and deep gamey undertones that are balanced against fine blackberry, black cherry, sour stone cherry fruit, white pepper, and freshly cut oak. More earth driven than fruit focused, the wine shows wonderful balance. Round, well-integrated tannins frame the intense fruit beautifully. A well-finessed BIG wine.

EIEIO & Company 2005 Canary Hill Vineyard Aromatics are fruit forward with bright, spicy notes that tickle the nose. Ripe red raspberries, red and black cherries, and sweet baked cherry pie with crunchy graham cracker crust intermingle with waxy black cherry and cola. Naturally high acidity contributes to a sense of structure in the mouth as well as a lengthy finish. Typical to this site, the wine drinks beautifully in its youth and will gain complexity with age. Like Grand Cru Burgundy at a fraction of the price.

 

EIEIO & Company 2005 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard
The intense and structured 2005 Meredith Mitchell results from the tiny Pommard clusters and berries and naturally higher acidity of the site. This wine usually requires a bit more cellar time to reach its full potential, but even in its youth displays an intense nose of blackberries and cherries laced with spice, black pepper, and hints of anise. Black cherry jam, juicy Asian Pears and brambleberry with a zingy acidity add a subtle complexity. The finish with hints of spectacular, sweet almond oil creates intense waves of salivation!

EIEIO & Company 2005 Stermer Vineyard
A beautiful garnet with Old School aromatics of earthy crushed dried grapevines and mushroom coupled with raspberry, blackberry and black cherries. Hints of fresh pipe tobacco, espresso, clove, vanilla and dark chocolate carry through to the flavors. In the mouth, candied cherries and dried red currants evolve into hot apple pie a la mode. This wine is wonderfully balanced with great structure, enticing texture and tannins, and a long polished finish. Acidity levels are lower than other EIEIO wines making Stermer lush and agreeable in its youth.

Available 2004 PINOT NOIRS

EIEIO & Company 2004 Canary Hill Vineyard
Dark color, aromatics, and flavors. More viscous, more brooding, more aromatically complex than the other 2004s with smells of dark fruit and flowers followed by licorice and violets. On the palate, blackberries and sweet cherries with hints of vanilla bean.  Velvet-like texture with a nice balance between the fruit, acidity and tannins. Unbelievable wine to date and one that will only get better with age.

 

EIEIO & Company 2004 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard
Aromatically this is the most exotic with spices ranging from star anise to Chinese Five Spice to fruits ranging from black cherries to tangerines to an element of fresh cut straw. Flavors of large, ripe stone fruits, bitter chocolate and Medjool datesare typical to the Pommard clone from this site. There is a sweet and lively juiciness similiar to the better Burgundies in the better vintages. Nice fine grained tannins combine with the acidity to make a flavorful and textural finish.  Great structure, elegance, and finesse.  This is a wine  that highlights EVERYTHING you should look for in a Pinot that will defy the drink in 5-7 rule.

EIEIO & Company 2004 Wind Hill Vineyard Although not citing vineyard designation until 2003, EIEIO & Company has produced wine from this site for the past five vintages. Elegant and distinctly feminine the wine displays lovely lavender and fresh cherry blossoms. Beautifully balanced aromatically and texturally this is a classic Pinot Noir.

 

 

2003 LARGE FORMATS

EIEIO & Company 2003 Blackburn Reserve - Magnum
Due to the extreme heats of the 2003 vintage, this south facing vineyard site experienced raisinizing- resulting in a massive Pinot Noir that borders Amarone or Port. If you are looking for Pinot like you've never experienced before look no further.