The Willamette Valley is gaining an increasing reputation as a producer of Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is a grape that is well suited to the cool climates of Burgundy, France, where it originated, and Oregon.
Both regions lie at the 45th parallel north and produce medium-bodied wines with pleasant acidity and fruit flavors of green apple and pear.
The outstanding Oregon Chardonnay character hits the palate first with aromas of lemon oil, white peach, pear and tart apple.
Flavors of lemon, pear and stone fruit with melon and mineral notes are complemented by clean touches of caramelized oak and hazelnut.
It has a good balance of acidity and fruit, with complex layers of fruit and oak leading to a soft, rich finish.
The Pacific Northwest experienced a relatively warm winter with below average precipitation.
Dry conditions continued into September and October, making 2021 the driest growing season on record and adding to ongoing drought concerns.
The growing season started cool with wide temperature fluctuations in April and May.
The most dramatic weather event occurred in late June when a heat dome enveloped the region for three days, breaking the all-time temperature record by 12 degrees.
Fortunately, the vines were well established so damage was minimal.
The growing season was warm through October.
Fruit quality at harvest ranged from very good to exceptional.
The grapes are whole-cluster pressed and then fermented in oak barrels, stainless steel and egg-shaped concrete tanks.
Approximately half of the wine undergoes secondary malolactic fermentation, giving it a soft, creamy depth.
It is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (15% new), with weekly batonnage to allow the lees to dissolve into the wine.
King Estate is located in the idyllic Lorain Valley, approximately 150 km south of Dundee Hills and Yamhill-Carlton in the northern Willamette Valley, a region renowned for its Pinot Noir.
Although located in the south, it is easily influenced by the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean, producing elegant, refreshing wines.
The chateau-style winery, built on a hill at the centre of the estate, offers spectacular views over the 418 hectares of land surrounded by pastures and green mountains, transporting first-time visitors back to a simpler time, when the rhythm of life was slower and more connected to the seasons and the bounty of the earth.
The certified organic vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and the property is dotted with orchards, flower gardens, vegetable and berry patches, as well as a beehive and pork processing plant.
This manor-like setting evokes the self-sufficient communities of the Middle Ages, but it is also at the forefront of winemaking.
Utilizing state-of-the-art winemaking equipment and techniques alongside the latest conservation and organic farming methods, the estate restaurant brings it all together beautifully with a world-class culinary program.
Pure and sophisticated, King Estate wines are a natural match for fine food.
Wine professionals will agree that King Estate Pinot Gris has been the #1 U.S. Pinot Gris served in restaurants across the nation for the past four years in a row.