One of the most extraordinary tastings I have ever been lucky enough to experience took place in McMinnville at The Eyrie Vineyard last Thursday afternoon just before the IPNC. A few dozen of us were treated to a complete retrospective of Eyrie Chardonnay from its debut vintage in 1970.  And the most extraordinary thing was how youthful even the older vintages were.

I will be writing more about this tasting and of course publishing my tasting notes, but below you can see Jason and Diana Lett, son and wife of the late David Lett, father of Oregon wine, explaining the background to the tasting.

It followed a similar exercise for their Pinot Noir last year when David was still alive. In parallel with the tasting, the Letts are offering library bottles of these fine vintages in aid of Lupe, wife of their cellarmaster Julio Hernandez,  who needs a kidney transplant and has been told that she needs $15,000 in an escrow account before they will even do the necessary preparations for a transplant, and may then need a further $100k at least for the long-term treatment  and surveillance afterwards.

Marvel at Jason's 1,800-bottle pre-tasting. Hear his views on random oxidation and his enthusiasm for Diam corks.