Wine
Spectator
O R E G O N
/ Pinot
Noir
June
15, 2002
91
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Guadalupe Vineyard 2000 $45
Dark, dense
and beautifully focused, showing black cherry, licorice and
peppery-floral aromas and flavors that last and last on the
firm finish. Best from 2004 through 2008. 690 cases made. --H.S.
91
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Wahle Vineyard 2000 $45
Smooth, ripe
and polished, with deep cherry, blackberry and dusky spice flavors,
finishing with just the right touch of sweet oak to round things
out. Tannins are beautifully submerged. Drink now through 2007.
140 cases made. --H.S.
90
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Carter Vineyard 2000 $45
Bright, focused
and generous with its currant, berry and spice flavors, finishing
smooth. Spicy oak notes are nicely balanced with zingy acidity.
Best after 2004. 342 cases made. --H.S.
90
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Elton Vineyard 2000 $45
This is firm
in texture and generous with its pretty blackberry and dusky
spice flavors, shading it all with sweet vanilla notes as the
fruit and spice echo on the finish. Drink now. 160 cases made. --H.S.
89
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Canary Hill Vineyard 2000 $45
Open-textured,
tangy style, offering blackberry, floral and tangerine peel
flavors on a fine-grained frame, finishing with a sense of freshness.
Drink now through 2005. 680 cases made. --H.S.
89
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley McCrone Vineyard 2000 $45
On the lean
side, a lithe red with tar, black cherry and smoke flavors that
linger among the crisp tannins on the finish. Best from 2004
through 2007. 230 cases made. --H.S.
89
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Nysa Vineyard 2000 $45
On the light
side, but open-textured and nicely focused to highlight very
pretty plum and currant aromas and flavors, which echo on the
fine-grained finish. Drink now. 280 cases made. --H.S.
88
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Freedom Hill Vineyard 2000 $45
Smooth and
velvety, with flavors centered on plum and blueberry, rounding
nicely on the fine-grained, harmonious finish. Drink now through
2006. 370 cases made. --H.S.
88
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Shea Vineyard 2000 $45
Ripe in flavor
and tangy in balance, with nicely focused blackberry and pepper.
The flavors are laced with juicy acidity as they linger on the
fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2006. 590 cases made. --H.S.
June
30, 2001
93
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Abbey Ridge Vineyard 1999 $40
Lithe
and juicy, an Oregon red with a beautifully focused band of
raspberry, rose petal and chocolate notes swirling through the
lively finish. Strikes a harmonious balance and lets the flavors
sing. Drink now through 2009. 280 cases made. --H.S.
92
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Arcus Vineyard 1999 $40
A seductive
wine, soft and gentle, unfolding its ripe blackberry, cherry
and spice flavors with grace, echoing the fruit flavors on a
supple frame. Finishes with impressive length, too. Drink now
through 2008. 145 cases made. --H.S.
88
Ken Wright Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Nysa Vineyard 1999 $40
Soft and
round, with ripe cherry and plum flavors, not especially broad
or deep, but nicely placed to remain graceful. Drink now through
2007. 275 cases made. --H.S.
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