2016 Offering: Ken Wright Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Offering
A “Classic” Vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir
The Style Of The 2016s: My Kinda Vintage
The 2016 vintage in Oregon’s Willamette Valley was back to what I would call “classic” for Oregon’s most important wine, Pinot Noir (watch out, here comes Chardonnay!). The two previous vintages had been warm with ripe fruit and lush textures, perfect for early- to mid-term drinking.
2016 is more in the ’07, ’08 style which, for me, is the ideal. There is early drinkability, but with more structure in the mouth than ’12 or ’13, which indicates very good potential for a long slumber in that cool, dark space. It’s a really lovely vintage of which I am very fond.
Does Oregon Pinot Noir Age?
I think I need to explain potential age-ability for Oregon Pinot Noir. I talk about it frequently at the shop, but you guys out there in the boonies (New York, DC, Miami, etc.) need to know.
We just did a tasting of 7 bottlings from 1999, one of the greats! At 18 years of age, there wasn’t a wine that was over the hill. You have to chose carefully if you like older wines. When all of the planets align, they are sublime.
All of the wines we offer on futures have great potential for a long life. Thomas… had a ’94 (23 years old) recently that was unreal, and kicked hiney on a top notch 99 premier cru Volnay. Had a McKinlay 1991 Special Selection. Superb!
I could go on and on, but the message here is: Stick with us. We only offer the best. You don’t see an offer every week from us because we only want the best.
The Single Vineyards on Offer
Last year, we offered ten different single vineyard bottlings! To keep things a little less confusing, we’re going to offer eight this year, but we can get any vineyards you’d like. He’s up to thirteen now!
For twenty years, we’ve been offering Ken’s wines and I’ve noticed that each one has its own personality. I think a good way to approach it would be to get a nice mixture from the different AVA’s:
- Yamhill-Carlton: Full, Dark
- Dundee Hills: Pretty, High Toned Red Fruits
- Eola-Amity Hills: Darker Fruit than Dundee but Still Pretty
- Ribbon Ridge: Structured, Built for Age but Also Drinkable.
Below I’ve listed the 8 different vineyards on offer, and the different AVA’s for each.
Please respond to this e-mail if you want to add these beauties to your cellar… or wine rack,
Sandy
The Offering: 2016 Ken Wright: The 8 Single Vineyards
I can tell you from many years of experience, Ken Wright is one of the most talented winemakers in Oregon. These are top shelf.
- Bryce (Ribbon Ridge)
- Canary Hill (Eola-Amity Hills)
- Carter (Eola-Amity Hills)
- Guadalupe (Yamhill-Carlton)
- Latchkey (Dundee Hills)
- McCrone (Yamhill-Carlton)
- Shea (Yamhill-Carlton)
- Tanager (Yamhill-Carlton)
Case: $540 = 12/750’s or 24/ 375’s
Six Pack: $285 = 6/750’s or 12/ 375’s
Mixed or Same; See Below
To Be Clear:
Minimum of 3/750’s and 6/375’s of any single vineyard
By the Case of 750’s
(3+3+3+3) 4 different vineyards
(4+4+4)
(6+6)
Or 12 bottles of the same vineyard
Single Large Format Bottles Are Also Available;
1.5 ltr./ $100
3 ltr/ $195
5 ltr./ $325
9 ltr./ $575