The Eagles’ Landing Wine Club - December 2020
Christmas came early! And while we are referencing your December wines, we also highlight the release of our renewed beautiful crafted labels and website.
While the pandemic has brought parts of the world to a stand still, we’ve been hard at work revamping the way you see Eagles’ Landing Winery. It has always been of our utmost importance to showcase the passion of crafting local wines from grape to bottle. And, while we might have the “grape” part in order, we can now celebrate a way to showcase the “bottle” as a label (and labor) of love. Cheers to you and yours!
Eagles’ Landing “Aquila” 2018
Winemakers: Casey Stuck and Eric Taylor (Owners- Just A Taste and Eagles Landing Wine)
Region: Missouri, Ozark Mountain
Grape Varietal(s): 73% Viognier, 25% Vidal, 2% Traminette
Method: A combination of neutral egg shaped vessel fermentation and 15% new French oak for 9 months
Age: Drink now or hold to 2030
On the nose: Notes of tangelo and almond sliver on the nose with a touch of butter cream
How it looks: Golden hues with medium plus weight
How it tastes: Ripe stone fruit, balanced with acidity, and notes of honeysuckle and rose
About: “Aquila” juxtaposes our flagship red wine, “XVII”. As a bolder and richer white blend, “Aquila” showcases not only what different compositions of varietals can achieve, but also what is possible for American plantings of Vitis vinifera. While Vitis vinifera (the “noble grapes”, as they are often referred to) are commonly seen in Old World wines and Napa Valley, it is difficult for these varietals to succeed outside of the most “perfect” growing climates. Thus, they are rarely found thriving in Missouri. However, Viognier (vee-own-yay), which is most prominently grown in France’s Rhone Valley, has found success with our friends at Crown Valley Vineyards. In 2016, Eagles’ Landing produced our first single varietal Viognier in a more steely, crisp style. For our second approach in 2018, we found a pairing of multiple varietals, a touch of oak, and extensive maturation could produce a fuller bodied wine unlike anything we’ve offered before. As “XVII” held the title of our flagship red wine, it was a natural progression that this blend captured the rank of our flagship white wine. Thus, “Aquila” (Latin for “eagle”) took flight.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WINE
“Aquila” is a wine that is not held by limitations. It is a dynamic blend of not only vitis vinifera and French-American hybrids, but also of multiple vinification methods such as utilizing neutral fermentation vessels and oak. Without going into unnecessary scientific babble, it goes to show that French-American hybrids can often have an imbalance of acidity (too high) and body (too low) when compared to Vitis vinifera. However, when we found the opportunity to utilize and experiment with the best of both, we did not balk at the chance to innovate and go beyond traditional. We aren’t necessarily seeking to make something new, or step outside the box just for something unique. However, we are on a mission to change the world views Missouri wine. Utilizing only local grapes serves as the foundation, and “Aquila” is our statement.
Eagles’ Landing “Terroir Series Chambourcin 2017 - Beckmeyer Vineyard”
Winemakers: Casey Stuck and Eric Taylor (Owners- Just A Taste and Eagles Landing Wine)
Region: Missouri, Ozark Highlands
Grape Varietal(s): 100% Chambourcin
Method: 100% stainless steel, 10% whole cluster
Age: Drink now or hold until 2025
On the nose: Candied raspberry with pencil shavings, and a touch of herbaceousness
How it looks: Plum with violet hues
How it tastes: Blackberry, plums, a hint of pepper, and silky tannins
About: Eagles’ Landing Winery began the ‘Terroir Series’ of wines for the 2017 vintage as a way to showcase how select, single vineyard fruit can translate into unique expressions in the bottle. Working closely with our sourcing vineyards, we were able to craft small batches (super small, even for us!) to highlight the sense of “terroir”, which is a French expression for the natural environment captured in each wine. Orion Beckmeyer’s Hartsburg Vineyard, where this Chambourcin was sourced, is at the very northern edge of Ozark Mountain AVA. There, the soil in the vineyard is composed of shale, clay, and iron.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WINE
The composition of soil at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains showcase as notes of minerality and silky tannin structure in the final wine. Chambourcin is always delicious, but the particularity seen in the ‘Terroir Series’ showcases the micro-climate that can only be found within the Hartsburg Vineyard. While we at Eagles’ Landing love all Chambourcin equally, it’s clear to see that Orion Beckmeyer’s hard work in the vineyard pays great dividends in the bottle. We are committed to hand crafting our wines, working with local growers and small businesses, and making the finest expressions possible. We are honored to partner with Beckmeyer Vineyards and highlight the amazing fruit!