Wine & Words

King Estate is located southwest of Eugene, Oregon near the town of Lorane. The 1,033-acre certified organic estate (including 465 acres of organic vineyards, as well as 30 acres of fruits, vegetables, and flowers) provides a spectacular mountain vineyard site with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,100 feet and cool, prevailing northwest winds that moderate vineyard temperatures.
 
The Signature Pinot Gris was our first wine from King Estate. I wrote about the King Estate itself and Featured the King Estate Signature Pinot Gris in August 2009, and, with its clean, organically raised fruit, it was very popular. Then we introduced Acrobat, the “second label” of King Estate. Second label usually means either that the grapes are not as mature as those in the premium bottling or the yields were higher (lower yields usually mean better quality), or maybe the winery just has a lot of wine and doesn’t want to flood the premium market. Whatever the reason, second labels are often very good values, and the Acrobat Pinot Gris is a fine example of that. Wine Spectator magazine gave that wine 90 pts. At $16.50/bottle for an incredibly well made wine, what's not to love?
 
We introduced King Estate Signature Pinot Noir 2006 in April of 2008 and it has become a best seller for its rich fruit and deep earthiness. The grapes are grown organically then fermented in 100% stainless steel to bring out the freshness of the Pinot Noir fruit, followed by 10-12 months in French oak barrels to lend a mellow toasty note. Even at the regular price of $32/bottle, this is a great bottle of juice.
 
Acrobat Pinot Noir (Oregon) Regular Price $24.95/ Feature Price $19.96
Now Mary and I have discovered (at the Tryon Trade Show in Wilmington) the Acrobat Pinot Noir, the same "second label" as the popular Acrobat Pinot Gris. And just like that other Acrobat, I can't really figure out why it's "second label." It may have grapes from other than the King Estates home vineyard. But, hey, at this price, it's a great deal. You must try it.
 
next: Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington) Regular Price $15.45/ Feature Price $12.36
next: is another project of King Estates. In my online search for just what this "next:" label was about, all I could find on the King Estate website was their marketing tagline - "A look forward from the people at King Estate Winery"...whatever that means. But then at Beyond the Bottle: A consumer's perspective on Oregon and Washington wine I found a comment by a Thad W. commenting on the next: Pinot Noir that it was a "high volume" wine of King Estate. Well, that drew a response from Ed King, Mr. King Estates, himself:

Thad- I appreciate your comments and curiousity. First, next: is a wine we make from our vineyards and the vineyards we usually buy from. It is not "bulk" in the sense that I think you mean- ie, that we went into the market for finished wines and bought product made by others to make this wine. In fact, there is plenty of King Estate estate-grown fruit in this Pinot. Which means it is organically grown right here on the home sod. Nonetheless- you raise the questions and concerns that everyone ought to- who made this wine and where did it come from? Why did they make it? Do they give a damn or are they just trying to get their 40 hours in? Well, we do give a damn and that's why this bottle is good, honest Pinot Noir. People want quality, consistency, and reasonable price rather than a rip-off.

So there you have it...right from the head honcho's mouth.
In my mouth (and Mary's) the next: riesling tasted like a very well-made Mosel valley Riesling, with a touch of fruit sweetness followed by a crisp hit of acidity that makes your mouth water for more food. This is accomplished by starting with grapes from the Horse Heavens Hills AVA, part of the larger Columbia Valley region, just on the Washington side of the Oregon/Washington border. That is an area renowned for its Riesling grapes. Then the wine is fermened in stainless steel temperature controlled tanks and ages "on the leas" (with the grape skins and yeast) to bring out the rich lushness of the grape. This is great winemaking, and it eventuated in a Gold Medal at the 2010 San Franciscio Chronicle Wine Competition. Not bad for a "high volume" wine at a very reasonable price. Like all Rieslings, this one will pair excellently with food, especially seafood, salads and spicy stuff (where the chilled sweetness of the wine is just the thing on a pepper parched palate).
 
Birds of Prey that defend the wine
Finally a note that addresses one of the things I like about the growing proliferation of organic estate wines. Not only does the "organic" appellation signify that the grapes were handled in a way that makes good, clean wine; but the winery itself becomes part of the process of healing our planet, a wonderful correction to the ravages of commercial factory farming that have hijacked most of our food supply. One of the things King Estate is doing to help is what they call their "Raptor Program." The description is from their website:

King Estate is treated as an organic eco-system. We have and encourage a thriving raptor population that aids in pest control by reducing the numbers of pesky rodents and birds that eat grapes. In addition to our native wild raptors we have established a partnership with Cascades Raptor Center by which we offer our estate as an ideal release site for orphaned and rehabilitated birds of prey. King Estate is an ideal partner release site for Cascade Raptor Centers birds because we have a large property with highly diverse habitats. Across our 1,033 certified organic acres there are grasslands, forests, and many other natural environments that suit specific birds of prey. The fact that we are organic insures that none of the raptors prey will contain toxic poisons used in “conventional farming”.

So when you enjoy a glass of one of these King Estates wines, raise a toast to a healthy planet and thank your Mother (Earth).