A great historic Oregon winery, Kramer Vineyards was founded in 1983 when Trudy and Keith Kramer acquired their 60 acre property in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation. They eventually planted 22 acres of vines for their estate vineyard and have a wide range of varietals planted including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Müller-Thurgau, Carmine, Muscat, Pinot Meunier and Grüner Veltliner. The Kramer’s daughter, Kim Kramer, serves as winemaker and has been making wine for more than a decade. She has a wealth of experience in the industry, with previous stints in Burgundy as well as St. Innocent.
Kim makes some beautiful sparkling wines that are astringent and mineral-driven. Look to the beautiful new 2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Brut Rose’ (WWB, 91) which comes from a warm vintage and has really beautiful range. The 2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 91) is a downright killer value at $34.00 and has a wonderful mouthfeel and black fruit flavors. Learn more about this great winery at https://www.kramervineyards.com Here are the great new wines by Kramer Vineyards.
2017 Kramer Vineyards Sparkling Muller Thurgau- This is a highly unusual varietal for a sparkling wine and has highly perfumed nose with honeysuckle alongside ripe pear and nectarine aromas. The palate is downright delicious with a touch of sweetness alongside pear, honeydew melon and starfruit flavors. This novel wine is simply terrific as it has both freshness and refinement. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The 2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Blanc de Blancs’ opens with aromas of hay, ripe pear and Challah bread. There is a good astringency here as the wine reveals green apple, green papaya and a touch of ginger. Refreshing and razor sharp, this is going to entice the somms — and it is delightful on its own or paired with fresh Kumamoto oysters. I imagine this will pick up wonderful tertiary tones as it ages over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- A blend of 50% Pinot Noir with 31% Chardonnay and 19% Pinot Meunier, this was disgorged in September 2018. On the nose there is good range from citrus rind to wild mushroom to sourdough bread. The palate is lithe and shows a great astringency. I am most impressed with the long finish that accentuates the beautiful sense of tension and balance in the wine. Highly refreshing, this is another great effort by Kramer Vineyards. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- Showing off a brilliant salmon color, this Rose is primarily Pinot Noir (72%). The nose is quite earthy with peat moss and forest floor that connect with the red fruits. Bright and refreshing, there is a great sense of minerality with bright cran-cherry, blood orange and wild mushroom flavors. Delicious now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2017 Kramer Vineyards Gruner Veltliner- Quite the unusual bottling for this AVA, the 2017 Kramer Vineyards Gruner Veltliner continues to be one of the more impressive wines of its type in the Pacific Northwest. On the nose this takes on green apple, kumquat and sourdough bread aromas. The palate is lithe and astringent with green apple and kiwi flavors that sit with copious minerals. This will pair marvelously with sushi. Drink 2019-2022- 90
2017 Kramer Vineyards Muller-Thurgau- This bright estate bottling opens with a bouquet of star jasmine with white peach and cantaloupe elements coming on aromatically. The palate is lithe and has a kiss of sweetness with ginger, nectarine and Japanese pear flavors. This is just a fantastic effort by the talented Kim Kramer. Drink 2019-2022- 90
2017 Kramer Vineyards White Pinot Noir- The nose is distinctly earthy with forest floor as well as bright melon and kiwi aromas that connect with citrus blossom undertones. The texture to this wine truly sings. Nectarine, cantaloupe and lychee flavors all connect with the good sense of minerality on the palate. This is another seriously good wine by Kramer Vineyards. Drink 2019-2024- 90
2017 Kramer Vineyard ‘Stainless’ Chardonnay- The ‘Stainless’ Chardonnay is sourced from the Kramer Estate Vineyard, first planted in 1984. Honeydew melon, Challah bread and ripe pear aromas all entice. The palate shows good lip-smacking acidity with bright melon and baked apple flavors that connect with the tension in the wine. This is a terrific wine for a range of shellfish. The long citrus and mineral-driven finish impresses. Drink 2019-2024- 90
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is a terrific entry level effort from this storied family winery. On the nose this shows good range from cranberry to cola to suggestions of black tea and peat moss. The palate is very elegant and shows a silky mouthfeel. Black tea, blackberry cobbler and citrus rind with wet stone flavors all collide on the palate. A seriously good wine, enjoy this over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from their estate vineyard which is now more than thirty years of age, this opens with a bouquet of white pepper, red currant jelly and suggestions of baking spices with pomegranate seed. Showing a refreshing edge, there is a vibrant minerality to this wine as it unveils lighter red fruit flavors that connect with citrus rind and earthy accents. Lithe and light on its feet, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2016 Kramer Vineyards ‘Heritage’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Heritage’ Pinot Noir is another outstanding wine made by the talented Kim Kramer. This opens with an enticing bouquet of red fruits with citrus rind and a touch of cola on the nose. There is a delicate, soft texture while the wine maintains a sterling acidity. Red currant, pomegranate seed, peat moss and wild blackberry cordial flavors all collide on the palate. Delicious now, this will evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92
2016 Kramer Vineyards Syrah- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this opens with bright red and dark fruits with chocolate undertones on the nose. The palate shows good freshness with medium bodied dark and red fruits that mingle with minerals. Drink 2019-2025- 89