Today we share a famed and also historic winery that helped put Oregon Pinot Gris on the map. Meeting last weekend with King Estate director of winemaking Brent Stone, we tasted and chatted about the warm 2021 growing season and how it contrasted to those made in 2022. It was warm but not unseasonably warm out as we tasted through a range of his limited production wines.
It was many years ago that Oregon wine legend Ed King realized that the southern portion of the Willamette Valley was a perfect spot to grow Pinot Gris. They now make several hundred thousand cases of their ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Gris that you can find in wine shops and supermarkets across America. Brent Stone has now been at the helm since 2011. He has been doing a fantastic job with the wines that range in SKUs from Sauvignon Blanc and Rose to Sparkling Wines and inky Syrah. King Estate is arguably Oregon’s most beautiful winery with sweeping views of the valley and its vineyards.
Earlier in the week I had tasted a 2012 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris (OB, 94) which was fresh and also very fleshy, starting to come into nutty tones. I adored the 2019 King Estate ‘Brut’ Sparking Wine (OB, 94) which was a total knockout having spent four years en tirage. Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at https://www.kingestate.com and here are my tasting notes from the new King Estate wines.
2019 King Estate ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- This 2019 sparkling wine sat en tirage for four years and is near equal parts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This is beautiful and generous on the palate with rich melon and kumquat fruit flavors alongside shades of guava on the palate. Salty and dense, with biscuit undertones, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2012 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris- Uncorked after being purchased at the winery, the 2012 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris is a magical wine that shows the incredible aging potential of top-class Pinot Gris. Kiwi, cantaloupe and macadamia nut flavors combine with wonderful viscosity and underlying verve on the palate. This still has life ahead of it! Drink 2024-2030- 94
2022 King Estate ‘Eola Springs Vineyard Pinot Gris- A beautiful wine that shows body and texture, the 2022 ‘Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Gris is the only wine that they make from this region. The site was first planted back in the early ‘70s. Stored in stainless steel, right away this opens with rich pear and brioche tones that combine with suggestions of honeydew melon. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2023 King Estate ‘Croft Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from this famed site for SB in Oregon, the 2023 ‘Croft Vineyard’ was stored in concrete, stainless steel and neutral French oak before bottling. This opens with kiwi, passion fruit and shades of Macadamia nut on the nose. The palate is deep and lithe with a smooth texture. Bright and fresh, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next six years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2022 King Estate ‘Grand Oak Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Formerly the Nicolas Vineyard, this was rebranded as ‘Grand Oak.’ Stored in neutral and new oak barrels, concrete and stainless steel, this offers a silky texture with bright sense of salinity. Peach and salted Marcona almond combine wth shades of pie crust and baking spices on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy this Chehalem Mountains AVA Chardonnay now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2022 King Estate ‘Just Shy’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Just Shy’ utilizes 113 clonal selection Pinot Noir and comes form the highest elevation block at the Estate Vineyard. Beautiful red florals mark the nose alongside orange peel and suggestions of salty soils. The palate is lithe and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel, showing a pretty red fruit profile. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2022 King Estate ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 King Estate ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site which was planted in the late 1960s. The bottling is more broad shouldered and generous right now. Dense red fruits collide with kumquat zest, volcanic soils and suggestions of white peppercorn. Drink 2024-2038- 93
2022 King Estate ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 King Estate ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this acclaimed site in the Walla Walla Valley. Dense and chewy on the palate, this has outstanding flavor range from chocolate and sagebrush notes alongside coffee grounds and shades of blackberry pie. Fresh and lithe with good texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2023 King Estate Muscat- The 2023 Muscat comes from their estate vineyard and was harvested late, checking in at 35 G/L residual sugar. Nectarine and candied ginger notes mark the nose alongside roasted pineapple. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture. Delicious now, enjoy over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 90