Eric White  
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
 | | 05-16-2003 08:23 PM |
| Another wine I was really looking forward to that really disappointed. Nice dark red color, an ok nose of cherries and earth. Lean and austere, with a thin, watery mid-palate, and muted fruit. 85 points. | | | 2008: the end of an error |
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DukeRiley
McMinnville, OR
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3811
| | 05-16-2003 08:31 PM |
| When I was at this winery during IPNC last year, Mike Etzel poured every vintage of Beaux Freres Pinot except 95 and 97. Now I know why.
| | Heater Allen Brewing
www.heaterallen.com | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
| | 05-16-2003 08:34 PM |
|  | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-17-2003 02:51 AM |
| | It might be the only known winery in the world that you can't find a good relevant tasting note. There's too many alternatives. | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2498
| | 05-17-2003 04:52 PM |
| | Excellent comment Board-O. Also at that price point, consider looking elsewhere. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 05-17-2003 05:01 PM |
| Beaux Freres wines are reviewed by Wine Spectator and Tanzer. Each newsletter from the winery (i.e. Etzel, Robert Parker et al) has detailed tasting notes for every wine they have produced. The notes are updated with every newsletter. How much more guidance do you need?
95 was a tough year in Oregon. The Beaux Freres despite the poor vintage conditions is a good wine. | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
| | 05-17-2003 05:17 PM |
| | Jones - If you have any notes and/or scores on this wine I would be interested to see how your impression compares. For me, at 85 points I would agree that it is a 'good' wine, just nothing special and nowhere near worthy of the price of admission. | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 05-17-2003 05:50 PM |
| | Nothing recent. Not their best effort by any means. Using a 85 point score from a weak vintage to extrapolate that all of the wineries offerings are overpriced and not worthy of purchase however is another thing entirely. 94/98/99/00 BFs are some of the best Pinots Oregon has ever produced. | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2498
| | 05-17-2003 07:06 PM |
| I have tried the '98 and '99. BF is no question a premier producer in Oregon.
At $80+ here, it's not a slam dunk. I must consider comparable quality alternatives. Your cost may vary. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-17-2003 08:45 PM |
| | By my comment, I meant that I don't how much I'd trust anyone's (not anybody here, but a rival publication) review of a perker-owned wine. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 05-17-2003 09:21 PM |
| Beaux Freres 2000 and 2001 are available direct from the winery for $62.50 a bottle, 10% less when bought by the case.www.beauxfreres.com 62.50 is not exactly the most expensive Pinot to ever come down the pike. There are a number of Oregon Pinots that exceed that price.
It seems unfair to me to make dismissive comments about any winery's pricing/perceived value based on inflated after market prices rather than the winery's actual msrp.
WS regularly rates Beaux Freres in the low nineties. | | | |
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Wineaux
New Orleans, LA
Wine Thief
Posts: 2804
| | 05-17-2003 11:56 PM |
| Jones,
I have one 2000 that I purchased at a discount earlier this year from a retailer that unfortunately was going out of business. Can you comment on a drinking window? | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 05-18-2003 12:45 AM |
| | If I only had one bottle, I would drink it 2007-9 although it will last longer. BF wines have shown a surprising ability to age. I thought that the 95 would be dead by 2003 when I tasted it on release - I only have 95s in magnum left. The 94 is still a baby and is aging at a glacial pace. | | | |
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DukeRiley
McMinnville, OR
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3811
| | 05-18-2003 01:12 AM |
| | I agree with Jones. 1994 and 2000 were similar years up here, and Mike Etzel is a better winemaker now than he was a decade ago. While the 93 Beaux Freres is now beginning to fade, as Jones said, the 94 still tastes great. | | Heater Allen Brewing
www.heaterallen.com | |
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Wineaux
New Orleans, LA
Wine Thief
Posts: 2804
| | 05-19-2003 02:46 AM |
| | Thanks to both of you. I'll follow your suggestions. | | | |
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