For years I have admired the consistency of Knudsen Vineyards — one of Oregon’s historic vineyards. Knudsen Vineyards was founded by Oregon wine pioneers Cal and Julia Lee Knudsen in 1971. Located centrally in the Dundee Hills AVA, the Knudsen family has grown grapes at this location for 45 years. I have long admired the Argyle wines sourced from this great vineyard as these grapes have helped produce some of the top sparkling wines made in North America. After the passing of Cal Knudsen in 2009, his children, each of whom had followed individual pursuits in business and finance, were compelled to return to the vineyard and then start Knudsen Vineyards winery in 2014 with the help of Argyle winemaker Nate Klostermann, and with the assistance of Rollin Soles.
The new wines were electric. I love the 2021 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which has amazing flavor density and range at this price point. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://knudsenvineyards.com Here are the fantastic new Pinot Noir release by Knudsen Vineyards.
2022 Knudsen ‘Founder’s Series Julia Lee Knudsen’ Chardonnay- Named after one of the founders, the 2022 Knudsen ‘Founder’s Series Julia Lee Knudsen’ Chardonnay is a rich, bright and beautifully-textured bottling that is singing right now. Brioche and lemon zest flavors combine with copious minerals and shades of mango on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2023 Knudsen ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A killer entry level bottling, the 2023 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers bright guava and loganberry fruit flavors alongside good tension and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2021 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2021Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir is concentrated and delicious stuff that is drinking beautifully in its vibrant youth. Rich red fruits parade with wet stone, cigar ash, Satsuma orange zest and shades of bergamot on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Backstory’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Backstory’ comes from Block 6 in the Knudsen Vineyard. This location is a 1.5 acre site that was planted to Pommard clonal selection Pinot Noir back in 2007. It is wonderfully as the clonal selection usually is, showing damp earth and peat moss notes that combine with mountain black raspberry and fresh sage on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Snapshot’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Snapshot’ comes from blocks 12 and 13 in the estate vineyard, as this utilizes Dijon clones 820 and 667. This is fresh, viscous and lithe stuff that is hard to resist right now. Bright red and dark fruits collide on the palate alongside volcanic soils and shades of wintergreen on the palate. This is a beauty that will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Founders Series Carl Knudsen’ Pinot Noir- Named after the patriarch of this location, the 2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Founders Series Carl Knudsen’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine that is rich and inviting in its heady youth. On the nose this takes on smoldering wet stone and rose petals alongside shades of tobacco leaf and dense dark fruits. The palate is plush with a terrific mouthfeel and bright sense of tension. Inviting to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94