1997 Pfeiffer Pinot Noir

From: Wine On The Web, October 26, 2000

Best Values (A-Z)

King Estate Pinot Noir Pfeiffer Vineyards 1997

Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Style: Red
Price: $40
WOW Rating: 92
Date Reviewed: 10/26/00

King Estate is Oregon's only major winery and is deservedly attracting a steadily increasing flow of media praise. Considering that its first wine was made in the 1992 vintage, the winery has made exciting progress. The building was constructed to last 200 years, and is situated on a prominent hill at 1,100 feet at Lorane near Eugene. King Estate has some 225 acres under vines and also buys grapes from other growers. Because Oregon has cooler climatic conditions than California, the fruit takes around 20 further days of hang-time to ripen. The results can be measured in elegance and style.

Pfeiffer Vineyards was, in 1992, King Estate's first contracted vineyard. The property is owned by the Pfeiffer family, who purchased it in 1984. It is not typical of Oregon as it has one of the warmer micro-climates in the state and subsequently is one of the first Pinot Noir vineyards picked. The 1997 vintage of this wine is a most exciting example of Oregon Pinot Noir, and displays considerable depth of color for the varietal. It offers tempting ripe cherry and raspberry notes on the aroma and its complex and beautifully balanced palate gives cherry, currant and chocolate flavors and fills the mouth with succulent fruit before leaving a long and satisfying finish. It is already drinking well and will improve for 4-5 years, and probably longer.

Only 153 cases were made.