Category: Reviews

July 3, 2024

Today we share one of the greats from the Willamette Valley. The story of Ken Wright dates back to the 1980s as Ken worked as a waiter in Kentucky. At the restaurant Ken was exposed to the great wines of the world. After spending eight years winemaking in California for Ventana Vineyards and Talbott Vineyards, Ken was finally convinced to move to the Willamette Valley in 1986. He then started Panther Creek cellars and then founded his namesake winery in 1994. In 2001 he added Tyrus Evan, a Syrah based winery, to his portfolio.

The wines have been consistently great over the past ten years. I love the new 2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is glorious for an entry level wine and shows loads of texture and tension. Even better is the 2022 Ken Wright ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated, with some serious aging potential. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://www.kenwrightcellars.com Here are the awesome new wines by Ken Wright.

2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The really good 2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay offers juicy nectarine on the palate, alongside salty orange peel, baked apple and brioche tones. Medium bodied and beautifully textured, enjoy now and over the next eight years. This is a steal at under 30 bucks retail. Drink 2024-2032- 92
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in the glass, the medium-bodied 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers tart red currants and wild strawberry flavors alongside salty soils on the palate. Soft and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 91
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2022 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The delicious 2022 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir shows a pretty core of red fruits on the plate, with stony minerals, red rose water, ash and shades of orange peel. Drink 2024-2032- 92
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites from this AVA which was established back in 2004. This is juicy and generous Pinot Noir, offering ripe red cherry and red raspberry notes with cloves, lavender and hints of salty soils. Drink 2024-2032- 93
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Canary Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Canary Hill Vineyard is set 9.5 miles west of Salem, as this site was first planted back in 1983. Deeply colored in the glass, this delivers rich black raspberry and black cherry notes on the nose with baking spices, black truffle and shades of pie crust. The palate is deep and concentrated with good underlying verve and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Really good to savor now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Bonnie Jean Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Bonnie Jean Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this 18 acre site location that is planted on ancient marine sedimentary soils. This displays a wonderful core of salty red fruits on the palate, with kumquat rind, menthol, and shades of volcanic ash. Medium to full-bodied, with beautiful structure, this is drinking beautifully already — and has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2039- 94
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Savoya Vineyard is located 3.5 miles north of the town of Carlton, Oregon. The vineyard is set on marine sedimentary soils, as there is a wonderfully salty essence to this wine. Tart pomegranate seed and red currant flavors mingle well with diatomaceous earth and its refined texture, with umami accents. Full-bodied and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 94
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this Eola-Amity Hills location that dates all the way back to 1983. Mainly Pommard selection Pinot Noir, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of potpourri, red raspberry, tobacco leaf and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture, exotic spices and great sense of weight and length. Rich and dense, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95
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2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, comes from this acclaimed site which was planted by Dick Shea in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Richly colored, this shows a seamless texture on the palate, offering a gorgeous array of bright red fruits to mingle well with tobacco, blood orange zest, red rose water and shades of wet stone. Finishing long with bright red fruits and copious minerals, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95
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2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
92 points

Easy drinking and downright delicious, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Ken Wright sports a light to medium ruby core with a blueish rim. Aromatics of ripe blueberries, licorice root, crushed leaves, blood orange, and bitter herbs show more complexity and depth than they should at this price point. Rounded and medium to full-bodied, with a silky smooth mouthfeel, plush tannins, and a sporty bitter herb finish complete the wine. 2024-2030. Purchase this wine. 

2022 Eola-Amity Hills AVA Pinot Noir
93 points

A bright transparent ruby core with a blue rim, the 2022 Eola-Amity Pinot Noir from Ken Wright gifts notes of mountain huckleberries, crushed black cherries, black licorice, bitter herbs, and lime zest. Medium-bodied in texture, it finishes with lovely tannins, elevated acidity, and a blue fruited note on the mid-palate. 2024-2032. Purchase this wine. 

2022 Yamhill-Carlton AVA Pinot Noir
92 points

A jeweled light ruby core with a light brick rim, the  2022 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir from Ken Wright is lush with earthy aromas of dried thyme and dusty country road alongside fruity notes of lemon zest, black cherries, and red currants. It’s medium-bodied, with fine-grained tannins, lemony acidity, and a long finish. 2024-2032. Purchase this wine. 

2022 Bonnie Jean Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 points

With a saturated red-ruby core with a neon purple rim in the glass, the 2022 Bonnie Jean Pinot Noir from Ken Wright gleams a bouquet of fresh purple flowers, sweet clove, black and red cherries, sweet tobacco leaf, and cedary herbs. I loved the sweet black cherry finish with a touch of grilled herbs that sits on the back palate. Full-bodied, it’s incredibly balanced with mature tannins that take on a youthful hold through the finish. 2025-2034.
(Sold out on Ken Wright Cellars bottle shop)

2022 Savoya Vineyard Pinot Noir
94 points

With a glistening medium ruby-brick core with a light pink rim, the 2022 Savoya Vineyard Pinot Noir is ripe with toasty spice, freshly crushed red cherries, pomegranate seeds, sweet vanilla, white chocolate, and wild forest herbs. Full-bodied, it’s a touch spicy on the palate, with notes of white pepper and ripe tannins that expand perfectly on the palate. Still a baby, so give it another year in the cellar. 2025-2034. Purchase this wine. 

2022 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
96 points

Another stunning wine from master winemaker Ken Wright, this one coming from the famed Shea vineyard. It pours a bright, shimmering ruby core with a silvery rim in the glass. Rich notes of fresh strawberries, crushed raspberries, sweet vanilla beans, crushed red flowers, and shades of milk chocolate give way to elegant tannins, medium acidity, and a blue-fruit and white pepper finish. Medium to full-bodied with a crisp texture, it fills the palate with ripe tannins that expand wonderfully from start to finish. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.  2024-2034. Purchase this wine.

2022 Canary Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
96 points

Another stunning wine by legend winemaker Ken Wright, this one the 2022 Canary Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir presents a gorgeous medium blue-ruby core with a glistening neon ruby rim. More elegant and encompassing than its siblings, it’s brooding with aromas of crushed huckleberries, blueberry compote, sweet Christmas spice, Early Gray tea, and grilled lemon peel. Medium-bodied, it maintains great power and purity, with supple, rounded tannins and a brisk lift on the finish. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. 2024-2034.
(Sold out on Ken Wright Cellars bottle shop)

2022 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 points

A youthful deep neon blue-ruby core with a light pink rim, the 2022 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir from Ken Wright improves with a little air after opening and exposes aromas of dusty road, crushed marionberries, dried strawberries, toasted vanilla bean, and a touch of grilled meat that adds complexity and makes it extremely interesting. It’s an intricate wine on the nose and palate that seems to morph over time in the glass. It’s savory and spicy on the finish, with a lot of saline shining through. 2024-2034.
(Sold out on Ken Wright Cellars bottle shop)

New Reviews from Jeb Dunnuck in recent article:
2021 Willamette Valley and Oregon Round Up Activity
Click to view article online (must be a subscriber for full article)

2022 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Blanc- 91 points

2022 Canary Hill Vineyard Rosé- 91 points

2021 Bryce Vineyard Pinot Noir- 97 points

2021 McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir- 96 points

2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir- 96 points

We have been honored with the following scores from Wine Enthusiast on our 2021 AVA Series Pinot noir!

2021 Eola-Amity Hills AVA Pinot Noir
95 points
“This is a Goldilocks special, because the fruit, alcohol, acidity and tannins are just right. Rainier cherry and lavender aromas are joined by smaller notes of leather and a new cedar chest drawer. The wine’s cassis, orange pith and smoky Lapsang souchong tea flavors float on a soft, smooth texture. Editors Choice.” — Michael Alberty, WE

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2021 Yamhill-Carlton AVA Pinot Noir
92 points
“Tangy boysenberries and raspberries mingle on the nose with aromas of cinnamon spice and orange zest. The medium-bodied wine’s strawberry pie, fresh basil and balsa flavors are supported by silky tannins and lemony acidity. Balanced refreshment.” — Michael Alberty, WE

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We have been honored with the following scores released by the Wine Spectator on a selection of our 2021 vintage single vineyard Pinot noir! The tasting notes below were crafted by Tim Fish, the senior editor at Wine Spectator.

2021 Bonnie Jean Vineyard Pinot Noir

94 points

Refined and polished, with elegantly structured raspberry, fresh violet, sandalwood and other dusky spices, finishing with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 679 cases made.— Tim Fish, WS

2021 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir

94 points

Graceful and polished, with multilayered cherry and blueberry flavors that take on cinnamon and fresh earth accents. Ends with refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 667 cases made.— Tim Fish, WS

2021 Latchkey Vineyard Pinot Noir

92 points

Snappy with tension and lively acidity, this red bursts with raspberry, cherry blossom and spice flavors that glide toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 390 cases made.— Tim Fish, WS

2021 McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir

93 points

Well-sculpted and expressive, with detailed raspberry, pomegranate, orange peel and dusky spice flavors that gather richness and tension on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 538 cases made. — Tim Fish, WS

2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir

93 points

Handsomely structured and detailed, with expressive rose petal, raspberry and blueberry-and orange-tinged tea accents that build tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. 1,432 cases made. — Tim Fish, WS

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