The Best Producer in Oregon?

One of my favorite areas for wine lately has been Oregon's Willamette Valley. Best know for Pinot Noir, these wines are truly unique and unlike other regions that produce the varietal. The Pinot Noir grape can be kind of finicky and only flourishes in a few areas of the world, Willamette Valley is one of them. The valley is unique in that the climate tends to be a lot cooler than other wine regions and yet it still has a long growing season which allows the grapes to reach their full ripening potential.

My favorite producer from Willamette valley is Ken Wright Cellars. Known as one of the better producers of Pinot Noir from Oregon, Ken and his staff focus on two objectives. Site specific vineyard management-to get the healthiest and ripest fruit possible; and wine making integrity-to capture and bring out the most powerful expression of the fruit. With all of his vineyard sites between the elevation of 200-700 feet above sea-level, allows all of his wines to have their own distinctive characteristics. These characteristics make it impossible to put any of his wines down. I have chosen to focus on two and his fantastic single vineyards.

Abbott Claim Vineyard 2010:

Personally one of my favorite Ken Wright wines that I have tried so far is from the Abbott Claim vineyard. Unique that its soil is made up of ancient marine sediments that are the oldest in Willamette Valley, this wine is hands down amazing. Touches of dark cherry, raspberry and cranberry explode onto your palate with soft tannins that lead to a long and expressed finish. Something that can be drank now or even put down for a few years. Definitely worth a try! $57.99

Freedom Hill Vineyard 2010:

Planted in 1980, Freedom Hill has become known as one of the firmest and most structured sites in Ken Wright's portfolio. The soil is composed of Bellpine, which is a sedimentary in origin, is unique just like the Abbott Claim vineyard. The grapes see more time in the shade due to hanging trellis, which in turn leads to thinner skins and lighter tannins making the wine more lush and approachable at younger age. Red berries and touches of spice can be seen. Mellow tannins give way to an elegant and intense finish. $57.99

-Chris OB