2022 Beaux Freres Chardonnay Willamette Valley 750 ml

In the 1980s, a rising wine critic and his brother-in-law fell in love with an Oregon pig farm, seeing a vast potential for world-class Pinot Noir. The critic: Robert M. Parker, Jr. The brother-in-law was now-legendary vintner Mike Etzel—and the pig farm became what is now known the world over as Beaux Frères, one of the Willamette Valley’s most revered and influential wineries.

To a generation of Pinot Noir lovers, Beaux Frères represents the pinnacle of Oregon winemaking, but at the start, Beaux Frères was just a vision and a collection of new vines. The winery itself was a modest structure, standing alone in the rolling hills of Yamhill County. Etzel, still working his day job, would spend every spare moment tending to the vines, learning through trial and error.

As the vines matured, so did the Beaux Frères philosophy. Etzel, committed to producing wines that expressed the unique terroir of Ribbon Ridge, adopted biodynamic farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking techniques. The first vintage, released in 1991, was a revelation, and word spread quickly among wine enthusiasts. Beaux Frères soon found itself at the forefront of Oregon's burgeoning wine scene (of course, Parker’s Wine Advocate recused itself from rating any of the wines). 

Today, owned by the Henriot group and led by winemaker Mike D. Etzel (Michael Etzel’s son), Beaux Frères is a world-renowned estate producing some of the most sought-after Pinot Noirs in the New World. Their Chardonnays can also compare with the best, and this 2022 is an homage to Old World winemaking, showing ripeness and precision, a bright core, and all the class of an outstanding Meursault.