Brought to cousin Mathew's for Thanksgiving. PnP. Ruby in color with a nice floral bouquet. On the palate, the expected cherry along with marionberry and perhaps cassis, but there are also some savory Rhone-like characteristics lurking about. This went very well with the turkey and stuffing. I was in the minority, but by a slight amount, this was my favorite wine of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yamill Carlton and Ribbon Ridge are the most Burgundian in style of the Willamette AVAs and the Pierre Leon seems most to me like the "masculine" wines of Pommard. Medium dark red color to the rim, brilliant and translucent. A powerful floral and tart cherry smell with earthiness and still very light on its feet. Tart with a strong and ripe tannic backbone, I especially enjoy a Pinot that looks ethereal and surprises with its bold flavors. Extended well balanced finish, this wine benefited from a two hour decant. Pierre Leon is a clonal blend from several estate sites and not as complex as the single vineyard offerings from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WK is such a consistent wine producer that I never worry that a bottle will be less than stellar, and the Pierre Leon pairs well with everything. Drank this with lamb chops and couldn't have been more pleased.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Having just purchased 4 btls of WillaKenzie pinot this was a nice peek into their wines. Generous fruit with accents of spice, fresh loam, sappiness, and a style that doesn't shy away from fruit but as plenty of terrior which I enjoy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple fruits and floral accents with focused black farming soil, sous-bois, and mineral notes. Expansive and palate coating, generous texture, lingering finish. Somewhat polished, a touch more lift, or edginess, would have enhanced the experienced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This pinot excels in flavor and complexity. There is that earthy quality to the complexity. I thought the berry flavor was not as pronounced as I have come to expect from WillaKenzie but still solid performer. Breathes well and overnight a noticeable improvement in finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vin aux arômes d’épices, fruits murs, boisé.. Assez costaud pour un pinot noir, a décanté 2h. Belle complexité et belle structure. Pourrait se bonifier encore avec 2-3 ans dans le cellier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hrs. Medium to light body. Smooth on the palate with tastes of raspberry & strawberry with a tart finish. The tart finish varied from glass to glass, so the tastes were inconsistent. Decent for the price, but my wife & I seem to prefer the more full bodied Pinots from the California Central Coast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium dark ruby, red fruit nose. Dry, tart red stone fruit, acid up front with some bitter tannins, PnP 88. Second night, red berry with a strong acid focus. Medium body and fruit, raspberry and pomegranate with smooth tannins on the finish. This is a change that I appreciate from the previous more fruity versions of the past. Third night, this is by far the best WK for my AFWE palate other than an earlier 113 clonal I have tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Pinot Noir Tasting - OR/CA vs France Score 17/20 in blind tasting. My favorite of the night. Rank #1 of 7.
Dark garnet color. Nice complex aroma with hints of berry and subtle floral. Medium body with balanced acids/tannins. Taste of berries (red), some floral notes and earthiness to round it out. Nice finish with lingering flavors. Drinking ok now but would benefit from some time in bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Feminine and soft, with red cherry and red berry flavors dominating along with a very nice flavor like an Oregon forest floor with mushrooms and fir needles. It's all pretty mellow but enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at winery. The last of the flight and definitely the best. Warm fruit notes and some mocha/caramel macchiato spice hints on the nose. Nice middle with balance fruit moves into a lingering delicious finish. This is the only one really ready to drink of what we tasted, but it will improve for a couple years more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cool berry fruit with some clean soil tones, very well-defined, a bit short and not very deep, honestly I was expecting a little more, but at least it is gracious and lovely, though not serious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and some good tannins. The tones of roses, incense, red fruits, and earth toned are well balanced with nice depth.
Overall: This is a very pretty and precocious wine right now. It could use a few years to fully come together and it should benefit from age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"Pinot in the City" tasting (Chicago, Ill): Seems to try to be an extraordinary Pinot Noir but just doesn't do it. Cherries, dark berries and earthy undertones. A bit tannic but probably just needs time for tannins to resolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Blogger's Conference 2012- Oregon Wines; 8/15/2012-8/18/2012 (Portland, OR): Aromas of black pepper, anise, clove, earth and black cherry. Rich red fruit on the palate- cherry and raspberry. Touches of rocky mineral, spice and mossy forest. Prickly acid on the palate with a smooth and silky tannin. Nice ripe elegance. Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/20/2020 - Russ P wrote:
DRINK UP, 1ST EVENING
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2020 - azcowino Likes this wine: 87 Points
Definitely aging. Lost most of its fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2018 - mhudes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought to cousin Mathew's for Thanksgiving. PnP. Ruby in color with a nice floral bouquet. On the palate, the expected cherry along with marionberry and perhaps cassis, but there are also some savory Rhone-like characteristics lurking about. This went very well with the turkey and stuffing. I was in the minority, but by a slight amount, this was my favorite wine of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2018 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yamill Carlton and Ribbon Ridge are the most Burgundian in style of the Willamette AVAs and the Pierre Leon seems most to me like the "masculine" wines of Pommard. Medium dark red color to the rim, brilliant and translucent. A powerful floral and tart cherry smell with earthiness and still very light on its feet. Tart with a strong and ripe tannic backbone, I especially enjoy a Pinot that looks ethereal and surprises with its bold flavors. Extended well balanced finish, this wine benefited from a two hour decant. Pierre Leon is a clonal blend from several estate sites and not as complex as the single vineyard offerings from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2018 - phils_hobby wrote: 91 Points
Heavier WillaKenzie Pinot. Very nice. Time to drink this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2018 - flah00 wrote: 86 Points
Red fruits and a bit of licorice and violet, decent tannins... But the finish was a bit sweet and cloying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - bklynfoodie Likes this wine: 90 Points
WK is such a consistent wine producer that I never worry that a bottle will be less than stellar, and the Pierre Leon pairs well with everything. Drank this with lamb chops and couldn't have been more pleased.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2017 - Tequilahal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Earthy with strong berry, mint and rose, this is another fine wine from a great producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2017 - bajayngo wrote:
Having just purchased 4 btls of WillaKenzie pinot this was a nice peek into their wines. Generous fruit with accents of spice, fresh loam, sappiness, and a style that doesn't shy away from fruit but as plenty of terrior which I enjoy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2017 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Purple fruits and floral accents with focused black farming soil, sous-bois, and mineral notes. Expansive and palate coating, generous texture, lingering finish. Somewhat polished, a touch more lift, or edginess, would have enhanced the experienced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - Tequilahal Likes this wine: 90 Points
This pinot excels in flavor and complexity. There is that earthy quality to the complexity. I thought the berry flavor was not as pronounced as I have come to expect from WillaKenzie but still solid performer. Breathes well and overnight a noticeable improvement in finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2016 - phils_hobby wrote: 92 Points
Crisp, light color. Smooth flavors of medium to light red fruits. Extremely well matched to rich king salmon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2016 - flussier wrote: 92 Points
Vin aux arômes d’épices, fruits murs, boisé.. Assez costaud pour un pinot noir, a décanté 2h. Belle complexité et belle structure. Pourrait se bonifier encore avec 2-3 ans dans le cellier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2016 - flah00 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Needed about 2 hours of decanting. Fruity inviting nose, medium mouth, light tannins, flat finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2015 - ZagWine wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed with a paella and was delicious! Took about an hour for it to open up. Has a sweet start and a pepper finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2015 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
solid burgundian pinot
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2015 - Gruffalius Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light to medium. Bright, forward fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2014 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Medium to light body. Smooth on the palate with tastes of raspberry & strawberry with a tart finish. The tart finish varied from glass to glass, so the tastes were inconsistent. Decent for the price, but my wife & I seem to prefer the more full bodied Pinots from the California Central Coast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - dsgris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium dark ruby, red fruit nose. Dry, tart red stone fruit, acid up front with some bitter tannins, PnP 88. Second night, red berry with a strong acid focus. Medium body and fruit, raspberry and pomegranate with smooth tannins on the finish. This is a change that I appreciate from the previous more fruity versions of the past. Third night, this is by far the best WK for my AFWE palate other than an earlier 113 clonal I have tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2014 - jdinkin1 wrote: 88 Points
Nice but not that interesting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2014 - Dannyfu Likes this wine: 88 Points
pepper and spice on the nose with cherry and raspberry on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2014 - tasty travels Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind Pinot Noir Tasting - OR/CA vs France
Score 17/20 in blind tasting. My favorite of the night. Rank #1 of 7.
Dark garnet color. Nice complex aroma with hints of berry and subtle floral. Medium body with balanced acids/tannins. Taste of berries (red), some floral notes and earthiness to round it out. Nice finish with lingering flavors. Drinking ok now but would benefit from some time in bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2013 - mreinitz wrote: 89 Points
Feminine and soft, with red cherry and red berry flavors dominating along with a very nice flavor like an Oregon forest floor with mushrooms and fir needles. It's all pretty mellow but enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2013 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted at estate. Warm nose, nice spice, like a macchiato, good fruity middle. Smooth finish, lingers slow and tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2013 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted at winery. The last of the flight and definitely the best. Warm fruit notes and some mocha/caramel macchiato spice hints on the nose. Nice middle with balance fruit moves into a lingering delicious finish. This is the only one really ready to drink of what we tasted, but it will improve for a couple years more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2013 - yofog wrote: 89 Points
Cool berry fruit with some clean soil tones, very well-defined, a bit short and not very deep, honestly I was expecting a little more, but at least it is gracious and lovely, though not serious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Willamette Valley Wines presents: Pinot in the City (City Winery, Chicago, IL): Nose: There is a pretty and lifting quality to the nose with tones of roses, incense, red fruits, cherries, and some earth tones. There is nice depth to this as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and some good tannins. The tones of roses, incense, red fruits, and earth toned are well balanced with nice depth.
Overall: This is a very pretty and precocious wine right now. It could use a few years to fully come together and it should benefit from age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2013 - cliffkol wrote: 88 Points
"Pinot in the City" tasting (Chicago, Ill): Seems to try to be an extraordinary Pinot Noir but just doesn't do it. Cherries, dark berries and earthy undertones. A bit tannic but probably just needs time for tannins to resolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2012 - MattMauldin wrote: 92 Points
Wine Blogger's Conference 2012- Oregon Wines; 8/15/2012-8/18/2012 (Portland, OR): Aromas of black pepper, anise, clove, earth and black cherry. Rich red fruit on the palate- cherry and raspberry. Touches of rocky mineral, spice and mossy forest. Prickly acid on the palate with a smooth and silky tannin. Nice ripe elegance. Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment