September 8, 2018 - Last of two bottles picked up a few years back. Smooth as silk with nice cherry and orange peel notes. Nice acid. Drink now if you have any left.
March 22, 2016 - This is in the zone right now. Pure, balanced, expressive Pinot Noir, cherry pie with a Burgundian flair. Drink now-2018 with a preference for "now."
October 14, 2013 - Utterly delicious! Not as fruit forward as the 2006 and not as earthy as other Ken Wright wines.
September 8, 2013 - Full dark cherries - don't know if it was the year or if it was heavily extracted, soft tanins, balanced oak--not smokey.
July 26, 2013 - IPNC Lunches and Dinners; 7/26/2013-7/27/2013 (McMinnville OR): Tasting. Mostly red fruit with good spice and concentration. Overall good balance and character. Should drink well for the next few years, close to 90 point quality.
July 18, 2013 - I purchased this in Oregon on vacation, and drank it in Asheville NC at Cucina 24 (corkage $15). Some sweetness on p'n p. A nice nose. Some heat. It had a CA central coast color, and wasn't the standard clear OR pinot. Very smooth, and a pleasure to enjoy on Day 1 and Day 2. Some spice, and I tasted cherries. Very enjoyable.
April 7, 2013 - Very good, very well-balanced Pinot which paired wonderfully with a duck breast in a Banyul reduction sauce. Tart strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate fruit, medium plus acidity and tannins, balanced alcohol. Medium body with a nice, long, palate cleansing finish. Willamette avoids the austerity of many French Pinots without the over-the-top sweet fruit and alcohol of many California Pinots.
March 9, 2013 - Favorite Pinot of the night. Not terribly aromatic, but I could pick out some mushroom and cola notes. Primary flavor experience is blackberry and dark cherry. There are also some earth notes and acid to balance. Long finish.
March 7, 2013 - Pinot in the City (City Winery, Chicago, IL): Lots of earthy juicy accents. Really balanced pretty and floral finish. Awesome bottling. Ken Wright is the winemaker.
March 7, 2013 - Willamette Valley Wines presents: Pinot in the City (City Winery, Chicago, IL): Nose: This shows the forward nature of the vintage with tones of tart red fruits, red cherries, spice tones, and some bits of candy. It is slightly lacking in depth, but the fruit is very nice.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity and silky tannins. The feel is more on the forward side with warm tones of red fruits, cherries, plums, and bits of spice. This is just lacking some depth that would really make this better.
Overall: this is a very good pinot. It has a more forward quality to it, but the fruit is nice and balanced. It is slightly lacking some depth, but is very easy to like.