Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Vintage: 2017

Composition: 100% Pinot Gris

History: WillaKenzie Estate is located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley on rolling hillsides in the Chehalem Mountains. The winery was named after the Willakenzie soil on which the vineyards are planted to convey the influence that the soil imparts on the wine’s flavors and aromas. The vineyards are planted with grapes of the Pinot family, mostly new Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from Alsace. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are cool climate grapes, which are particularly well adapted to Oregon. As winemaker for WillaKenzie Estate, the acclaimed producer of single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, Erik Kramer leads all winemaking and cellar operations.

Tasting Notes:

Extensive lees contact in stainless steel tanks allows this Pinot Gris to maximize fruit expression with notes of pear and papaya. The mouthfeel is rich, yet has a strong backbone of acidity which carries the wine to a long finish.