The Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve Pinot Noir 2014

It's nearly impossible to capture the importance of Eyrie's South Block. One ten-row section of Eyrie's original plantings, with unique soils, exposure and microclimate, was recognized early by founder David Lett and bottled separately as South Block. In 1979, Eyrie's 1975 South Block was entered into an international wine tasting in Paris; it finished third, above storied Burgundian Grand Crus. Shocked and displeased with the results, the French staged a similar competition the following year. Eyrie's '75 South Block finished second, again besting epic Grand Cru Burgundies. The world was on notice: Oregon could produce truly world-class Pinot noir. 

Interestingly, David stopped selling South Block shortly thereafter, yet continued to bottle it through 2007, the year before he passed away. 2007 was thought to be the final vintage for South Block but David's son, Jason, decided to revive the South Block bottling in 2013 because he believes there are only ten or so years before it succumbs to phylloxera. It is a tremendous tribute to David Lett and as such, bears his signature.