Score: |
92 VM. "Vibrant ruby. Smoky and expansive on the nose, displaying ripe red and dark berry, cola and mocha scents and building spiciness. Nicely concentrated black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Dusty tannins add grip to a long, gently chewy finish that repeats the smoky note. One of Oregon’s most highly regarded winemakers, Ken Wright has released a stellar set of wines from 2018. Fans of his style will be very pleased with the fruit intensity of these Pinots, but they show welcome energy as well, with the depth as well as the structure and balance to age gracefully. Wright’s wines have always been extroverted, but in recent vintages, despite the heat, I’ve been noting a greater degree of elegance. These 2018s show a lot of aromatic complexity, and their textures are smooth, which makes them pretty delicious already, especially with aeration, but I strongly recommend holding them for at least a few more years." Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com, Feb 2022 |