Wine Reviews
2002 Domaine Pinot Noir
King Estate Domaine Pinot Noir 2002
King Estate is located in the Southern end of the Willamette Valley, southwest of Eugene, Oregon near the town of Lorane. Founded in the early 1990's by Ed King III and his father, Ed King Jr., the 1,033-acre wine estate specializes in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris but does produce a few other varieties as well. The 110,000 square foot winery's design is based on a French chateau and the estate vineyards are located at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,100 feet. Winemaker Bill Kremer's Pinot offerings include the Signature Collection bottling - always a good value, some vineyard designated bottlings and the top of the line Domaine bottling.
Medium-deep ruby purple color; deep, spicy, earthy aromas; deep cherry and earthy flavors with sweet oak and a touch of tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. This is a big, deep Pinot with many layers of flavor. The domaine program uses all organic estate grown grapes and is the top of the line for King Estate.
1,060 (6 pack) cases made $50 Score: 93
From: Wine Enthusiast, November 15th, 2005
Score: 91
King Estate
2002 Domaine
Pinot Noir
This latest release of King Estate's top-of-the-line Domaine bottling shows that the 2001 was no fluke. A serious effort, juicy and concentrated, it opens with lovely scents of Pinot cherry-berry and plum fruit, layered with earth, wood, leaf, spice and plenty of tart fruit. The new oak is there but restrained, and the structure suggests that putting this one away for a few years will be very rewarding. Cellar Selection.
*Top rated Pinot Noir in this issue
From: Oregon State Fair Professional Wine Awards, 2005
Won Silver!
From: Tasters Guild International, 2005
Won Double Gold!
From: Critics Challenge, 2005
Won Gold!
From: Food & Wine , Summer 2005
Best 2002 Values: This flashy Napa-esque property on the outskirts of Eugene alarmed the homey Oregon wine community in the 1990's, but the King family has demonstrated it's serious about producing elegant and harmonious wines.
From: Wine Press Northwest, Summer 2005
Excellent: King Estate's Domaine wines are made from estate, certified-organic grapes and represent a new direction for the Eugene-area giant. This new release is still pretty tight, but it's beginning to reveal its full potential with aromas and flavors of loganberries, cherries, leather and tobacco. It's showing a lot of oak now but should become better integrated with time.
From: BTI, Summer 2005
Score: 93 - Exceptional
Domaine Pinot Noir 2002
From: Wine Spectator, May 31st 2005
Score: 90
King Estate Pinot Noir
Oregon 2002
Firm and flavorful. A juicy mouthful of cherry, red berry, olive and dusky spice flavors, persisting nicely on the chewy finish. Needs time to soften the edges.
|
