It is my pleasure to share the wines from one of Oregon’s historic wineries. The wine dream began in the 1980s as Ken Wright 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. Check out the outstanding 2024 Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is a gorgeous bottling for the price. Even better is the 2024 Ken Wright ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows off this incredible site with loads of tension and salty nuances. Here are the awesome new wines by Ken Wright.
2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay opens with a bouquet of peaches, starfruit and shades of wet rock. The palate is rich and beautifully-textured, with outstanding length. This is a joy to consume now, showing light orange marmalade notes. Drink 2026-2033- 93
2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A wonderful new AVA bottling, the 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is soft and round upon entry. Ripe strawberry and Bing cherry flavors parade with watermelon and suggestions of Mandarin orange peel on the palate. This is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The seriously good 2024 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir leads with crushed wet rock and red florals on the nose with shades of pomegranate seed. The palate is loaded with crunchy red fruits alongside great stony and salty nuances. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The delicious 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir shows loads with juicy red fruit flavors that combine with Satsuma oranges, and salty minerals on the palate. Refined and sleek throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Savoya Vineyard is located 3.5 miles north of the town of Carlton, Oregon, set on marine sedimentary soils. This is heady and viscous stuff with a terrific core of pomegranate seed, cranberry and wild blackberry tones that combine with great salty soil character and diatom. Full-bodied and broad-shouldered, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The finest wine of this new lineup comes from the Shea Vineyard, planted by Dick Shea in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This is one of the premier sites for Pinot Noir in all of Oregon. On the nose this takes on wild blackberry and dark rose petals alongside rocky soils and tobacco leaf. The palate is rich and powerful with terrific structure, tension, minerality and mouthfeel. A delicious wine that has a long life in front of it, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 95