Last fall, the 2021 vintage of winemaker/co-CEO Brent Stone’s flagship Pinot Noir for the King family picked up a Double Platinum. Despite the “heart-stopping frost” of April 15 the following vintage, the 2022 seems poised to earn another Platinum — which would be the 11th time for King Estate to receive a Platinum during Great Northwest Wine’s year-end smackdown of gold-medal winners from the previous 12 months. The list of vineyards Stone pulls in from throughout the Willamette Valley for this bottling is remarkable, but the certified Biodynamic estate contributes 23% to the final blend. That’s more than any other source. Prominent dark cherry tickles the the nose with hints of toasted vanilla. The palate is smooth and deep as red cherry, Craisins and orange oil swirl into a chocolaty and savory finish. Indeed, the copyrighted moniker “Kings of Pinot” still applies.
Rating: 93 points — double gold medal, 2024 Cascadia International Wine Competition — Outstanding!
Production: 24,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.37%
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