W.O.T.W

This weeks wine of the week is a wine that I recently had at a dinner at Reynolds Plantation, Willakenzie Pinot Blanc.  This Pinot Blanc from the Willamette Valley shows a great depth of character and complexity. 

"The 2009 Pinot Blanc opens with aromas of exotic fruits, including grapefruit, gooseberry, guava and pineapple, along with perfumed honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom, with a hint of lemongrass. On the palate, this wine has flavors of honeydew, juicy grapefruit, green apple and stone fruits, marked with an initial richness and a hint of sweetness that evolves into a bright, fresh acidity".

WillaKenzie Estate is a small family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir, making great wines from the Pinot family of grapes: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay Noir made in the Beaujolais crus style. Owner Bernard Lacroute developed a passion for Pinot Noir in his native province of Burgundy.

The sedimentary Willakenzie soil on which the vineyards are planted and for which the winery is named, displays subtle variations throughout the estate. Differences in elevation, from 300 to 750 feet, inclination, from gently rounded hilltops to 40 degree slopes, top soil depth, restrictive sandstone layer depth, drainage, exposure, row orientation and microclimate all contribute to create specific terroirs, which are expressed in the distinctive character of each WillaKenzie Estate wine. A further level of diversity and complexity is provided by the selection of more than 10 different clones of Pinot Noir planted across the estate. Creating estate wines that explore and express the specific qualities and combinations of clones and terroir is at the heart of WillaKenzie Estate’s philosophy.

WillaKenzie Estate - 2009 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley

"Lively, silky and refreshing for its pear, citrus and green almond flavors, dancing brightly through the finish." - Harvey Steiman

October 15, 2010-Wine Spectator 90 Points