Beaux Freres

from Robert Parker via Champagne Henriot to Chateau Latour

During a vacation in 1986, Michael Etzel discovered a pig farm in Ribbon Ridge in the Willamette Valley and eventually purchased it together with his brother-in-law Robert Parker Jr (the well-known American wine critic). This is where the name "Beaux Frères" comes from, which translates as brother-in-law.

He brought in his first harvest in 1990. He kept the amount needed to produce one barrel and sold the rest to Ken Wright & Dick Ponzi (for whom he also worked for four harvests). Initially, only one wine was produced, but over time he differentiated between various individual vineyards. The conversion to biodynamic viticulture took place in 2007. After spontaneous fermentation, the wines are matured in 30-50% new barriques. In 2017, Maisons & Domaines Henriot acquired a majority stake (Robert Parker dropped out completely). In 2020, the French Group Artemis Domaines took over the shares, which also includes Clos de Tart in Burgundy and Chateau Latour from Bordeaux. Michael's son Mike D. Etzel now runs the winery together with Damien Lapuyade.

While the wines were characterized more by power and opulence in the early years, they have become increasingly refined, elegant and expressive over the years.