Shea Vineyard has been selected as one of the top 10 vineyards in the world by Wine Enthusiast magazine, alongside Romanee-Conti and To Kalon, and is a vineyard that Oregon's top wineries are eager to purchase.
Surprisingly, this vineyard, which was planted in 1989, was initially unpopular and the grapes were on the verge of being sold off at a discount. However, it was Ken Wright who recognized the potential value of the vineyard and, despite the risks, invested time and money in the vineyard to improve its quality.
Delicious honeycrisp apple, raspberry and cherry tart dance with baking spices of cinnamon, cardamom and anise.
Beautifully balanced on the palate with a warm milk chocolate finish.
The harvest averaged just under three tons that year, perfect despite record heat during the growing season.
Due to the dry summer there was no disease and the fermentation proceeded perfectly, with no deviations at all and the whole process was completed without incident.
Ken Wright was Oregon's first to be featured on the cover of Wine Spectator in 2015 with a nine-page profile highlighting his achievements in the Oregon Pinot Noir industry and his local philanthropic work.
Specializing in single vineyard wines, his wines have been praised around the world for 40 years.
The Pinot Noir variety is unlike any other food or drink we know, and it has an incredible power to connect us to the fields and the earth.
Ken says it's like a blank canvas, allowing the grapes to absorb and express the aromas and flavors of each land.
Ken was the first to advocate that not all Willamette Valley AVAs were the same, and that they needed to be subdivided and have sub-AVAs established.
Without Ken Wright, Oregon Pinot Noir would not be as unique as it is today.
Ken also clearly explains the relationship between the characteristics of Pinot Noir and the soil, stating that Pinots grown on marine sedimentary soils tend to produce floral and spice-focused wines, while those grown on volcanic sedimentary soils tend to produce wines with a more fruity flavor.