2012 Ken Wright, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley.
Ken Wright’s legendary Pinot Noirs are some of the Oregon standard bearers, and while his single vineyard wines are his top tier offerings, it is his Willamette Valley cuvee that can be the best value and early drinking wine, and this 2012 version is a great example. The vintage is looking like a classic year for Oregon Pinot, and I was certainly impressed by Ken Wright’s single vineyard samples I tried earlier, but the real steal and show stopping is this lovely entry level cuvee, while his single vineyard wines need a few years to show their best, this wine is tasting great now. I say, don’t miss this value priced Pinot from the maestro, it gives the pleasure of his upper level wines and is more user friendly with soft tannins, open fruit and a suburb lengthy finish, this is lovely and well crafted wine, especially for the price. The bouquet is more heady and pretty than the tight and closed single vineyard wines, it shows wilted roses, hints of dark flowers, red spices and mineral tones along with red currant, earth and sweet herbs leading to a medium weight palate with bright acidity lifting the red fruits including flavors of plum, raspberry and strawberry to go with a tangy cherry core element. The background shows cedar, pepper, lavender, forest floor, wet stones, smoke and porcini. Drink from 2014 to 2019.
($27-32 Est.) 92+ Points, grapelive
