|
|
Wine Recommendation
Willakenzie Estate Winery
2005 Pinot Gris(Willamette Valley)
The names of two Lane County rivers, the Willamette and the McKenzie were combined to label the Willakenzie soil type, a sedimentary, silty-clay loam of low fertility, found in the Willamette Valley. Bernie Lacroute, a Burgundy native, named his property after the soils in his vineyards, which display variations throughout the estate based upon differences in elevation, inclination, top soil depth, drainage, exposure, row orientation and microclimate. Lacroute believes that all contribute to create specific terroirs, which in turn are expressed in the distinctive character of each of his wines.
The 2005 vintage was challenging due in part to rain at the end of September as harvest began. At Willakenzie Estate they stopped picking for several days until the showers passed. Lacroute credits their vineyard management practices for avoiding rot or mildew in the grapes.
Pinot Gris is Oregon’s star white wine. In this screw-capped edition from Willakenzie Estate winemaker Thibaud Mandet aimed for an Alsatian style of unctuous fruit and luscious mouthfeel balanced with finespun acidity. The style may be Alsatian, but the fruit is pure Oregon Pinot Gris with bounteous ripe pear and melon aromas and flavors suitable for grilled salmon or on its own as an aperitif.
Reviewed July 27, 2006 by Rebecca Murphy.
Other reviewed wines from Willakenzie Estate Winery
The Wine
Winery: Willakenzie Estate Winery |
The Reviewer
Rebecca Murphy
Rebecca Murphy began professionally assessing wine thirty years ago as a buyer for restaurants. She has been judging and writing about wine for twenty-five years. She believes that wine should provide pleasure whether it costs $10 or $100. She looks for structure, balance, complexity and food friendliness, and is leery of wines that are bloated with alcohol and oak. She is always on the lookout for wines with individuality and a “taste of the place.” |