I fondly recall my first bottling of WillaKenzie Estate. After tasting the incredible 2002 ‘Terres Basses’ I had to go visit for myself. I was in graduate school in 2005 and I descended upon this beautiful winery. A truly unique and scenic vineyard, WillaKenzie produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris with small amounts of Pinot Meunier, Gamay Noir and Chardonnay. A few years back the winery built expansive facility, with sweeping views across the Willamette Valley.
Acquired a few years back by Jackson Family, Erik Kramer serves as winemaker, formerly applying his trade at Domaine Serene. The wines he mades are really good. His wines are focused with beautiful mid-palate ripeness and impressive quality across the board. I really enjoyed his 2021 WillaKenzie ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is beautifully textured, showing good weight from this warm vintage. Learn more about this great producer at willakenziestate.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by WillaKenzie Estate.
2022 WillaKenzie Estate Rose- Bright and loaded with tension the 2022 Rose by winemaker Erik Kramer offers red rose water with orange rind and pretty guava and red raspberry fruit flavors. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next several years to come. Drink 2024-2028- 90
2021 WillaKenzie Estate ‘Estate Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Estate Cuvee’ opens with bright red fruits with a smooth texture and citrus rind accents on the palate. Soft and refined, with a smooth texture and plenty of salty soil accents, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2032- 93