Willamette Valley | Dundee Hills
2016 Knudsen Vineyards Pinot noir
A bright ruby color denotes the vibrant youthfulness of this Dundee Hills Pinot noir. The nose is blooming with soft rose petal, ripe raspberry and cherry pit. Touches of worn leather and warm, toasted oak linger in the background. The wine is medium-bodied, with pliable tannins and well-integrated acidity. It has a core of ripe cherry and an essence of strawberry, framed by a gentle herbal note which gives lift to a well-balanced finish.
FAMILY SERIES
Estate Grown
LIVE Certified
Salmon Safe
ACCOLADES
94 – PinotFile
92 – James Suckling
91 – Wine Enthusiast
91 – Wine Spectator
91 – Wine & Spirits
Gold – TEXSOM
Gold – SavorNW Wine Awards
more…
Soil: Jory – red volcanic: drains well during winter; holds water during summer heat.
Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3.62
Oak: 20% New French Oak
TA: 5.2 g/L
Cases: 500
Block 18 | 70%Rootstock | 3309
Clone | 777
Planted | 2000
Elevation | 570-670 ft
Exposure | SE
Spacing | 5×3.3 ft
Block 15 | 10%
Rootstock | 3309
Clone | 777
Plated | 2001
Elevation | 660-770 ft
Exposure | S
Spacing | 5×5 ft
Block 8 | 10%
Rootstock | Riparia
Clone | Pommard
Plated | 2007
Elevation | 760-840 ft
Exposure | E
Spacing | 5×5 ft
Block 13 | 10%
Rootstock | Riparia
Clone | 667
Plated | 2001
Elevation | 680-770 ft
Exposure | S
Spacing | 5×5 ft
92 Points – James Suckling
Sweetly fragrant aromas of fresh berries and berry pastry make for an attractive, young-pinot nose. The palate has a sweet of fine, grainy tannins and a smoothly ripened, deliciously fresh-fruited palate.
91 Points – Wine Enthusiast
“A light and lovely mix of red fruits, this also shows a streak of chicken stock, dried straw and moderate acids.” – Paul Gregutt
91 Points – Wine Spectator
“Vibrant and fresh, with lively cherry, green tea and orange rind accents that pick up speed toward sleek tannins. Drink now through 2024.” – Tim Fish
GOLD – 2019 SavorNW Wine Awards
GOLD – TEXSOM
SILVER – 2019 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
SILVER – 2019 SF International Wine Competition
SILVER – 2019 Cascadia Wine Competition
94 points – PinotFile
“Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Quintessential Dundee Hills Pinot Noir featuring waves of red cherry and red raspberry fruit aromas and flavors, complimented by tones of sandalwood, baking spices and fertile earth. I swear I could taste an “iron minerality” in this wine. Impeccably balanced, with a deft touch of oak, empowering juiciness and a long cherry-fueled finish. Intoxicating in a good way.”
92 points – International Wine Report
“The bouquet of the wine screams Dundee Hills with delightful dark fruits, spicebox and black truffle aromatics that build in the glass. The palate is downright delicious, unveiling a good combination of red and dark fruits with a touch of cola and earthy undertones. The mid-palate weight delights.”
Outstanding, Selected Wine of the Week – Wine Press Northwest
“The historic Knudsen family, led by the late Cal Knudsen’s daughter, Page, adds another delicious chapter to its young brand with this fruit-forward Pinot Noir crafted by Argyle winemaker Nate Klostermann. Clone 777 dominates this blend across four blocks, and the dark fruit profile is reminiscent of boysenberry, blackcurrant and black cherry. The 16 months in 20% new French oak barrels allows for baking spice, cola and toasted sesame seed as a touch of earthiness adds to its panache. Pleasing density of plum, cherry-skin tannins and boysenberry acidity combine for a rich finish. This marks the third consecutive vintage that Great Northwest Wine’s tasting panel has given its top rating to the Knudsen flagship Pinot Noir, adding validation to Wine Press Northwest magazine naming Knudsen Vineyards as its 2016 Oregon Winery to Watch.”
Mary Cressler, Vindulge
“I tasted the very first vintage of this wine several years ago, and I love trying it year after year. And one of the biggest things I get is consistency. It’s always incredibly elegant, pretty, and balanced. A lighter style for the Willamette Valley, but not lacking in flavor, it has black cherry, cranberries, minerality, a touch earthy, with some spice and good acidity. This was one of the wines I brought onto AM Northwest to pair with Thanksgiving dinner.”
92 Points – Washington Wine Blog’s “Pacific Northwest Wines for Thanksgiving”
“I love the earthy aspects of this great Pinot Noir but this, too, has the weight to stand up to turkey.”
Christine Havens
“The 2016 vintage was quite warm for the Willamette Valley, here Knudsen’s estate-grown Pinot Noir expresses a touch more black fruit than I have found in previous vintages—black cherry and black raspberry along with more ethereal notes of twiggy underbrush, a touch of iron ore, talc, and nuanced florality. It’s round and silky on the palate, with ultra-fine, ripe tannins and a degree of expressive lushness as one would expect for the vintage.”
The Daily Meal
“I’m always excited to see Willamette Valley on a bottle of Pinot Noir – this Oregon region has become one of my favorites for wines made from the heartbreak grape. Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016 from the Dundee Hills AVA is a charming sip. Medium-bodied with vibrant crushed cherry flavors with a touch of strawberry, pomegranate, and a touch of black tea leaves. Very supple and fresh.”
For a third year in a row, the 2016 growing season was warm and dry and resulted in another bountiful crop of exceptional quality. Relative to 2015, July and September were a few degrees cooler while June and July had modestly greater precipitation, all resulting in another early harvest at peak maturation. It is also worth noting that precipitation during the largely dormant October – March season substantially exceeded historical averages providing welcome nourishment to land and vines after these three consecutive warm growing seasons. Finally, our higher elevation and innovative vineyard-wide drip irrigation system enables peak performance in relatively warmer years.