2009 Ken Wright Horizontals

It was only a couple months ago that I was complaining about how 2007 was going to go down in history as the forgotten vintage and yet here I am perpetuating that by writing up 2009, when a substantial amount of 2008s aren’t even on the market yet. Regardless, when opportunity knocks, I write and this past week the opportunity to purchase Ken Wright futures was announced.

Ken Wright is known for three things:

1. always knowing “the best” vineyards to source fruit from and his ability to make the site transparent in the bottle

2. his profound appreciation for geology and

3. selling out on futures with very few wines ever reaching the retail market

The latter is the reason why every year we jump at the opportunity, but unlike KWC that offers futures in 6 pack purchases ONLY, WE offer mixed cases with one bottle from EACH of the ten Ken Wright vineyard sites and two bottles of Ken Wright white wine. Having the ability to taste across a producers portfolio emphasizes the significance of the vineyard site and as mentioned above, this is one of the things KW is known for.

2009 Horizontals featuring new artwork include one bottle of the following:

Abbott Claim Vineyard - depicting harvest

The newest of the KW Vineyards, this 17 acres site consists of roughly an equal mix of the standard Pommard clone with the newer numbered clones of 777 and 115. Wine is very darkly colored, dense and lush. Fruits tend to be darker such as plum, cassis and black cherry with added elements of cocoa, leather and fresh-turned earth. Acidity levels are generally lower than other regions, prompting these wines to be lush and agreeable in their youth.

Canary Hill Vineyard - depicting the original owners, Dick and Nancy Daniel planting the vineyard in 1983

Located at the southern end of the Eola Hills the big Pommard clone vines were planted in 1982 and 1983. Wine from this vineyard is typically very forward, with aromas of black fruits, black cherry, plum and cassis, with acidity levels that are naturally higher than in other growing areas, contributing to a sense of structure in the mouth.

Carter Vineyard - depicting the geological profile of this basaltic based site

Located just 1 mile from Canary Hill in the Eola Hills, Carter Vineyard is comprised of Pommard, Wadenswil, 777, 667, and 115 clones. The wine is firmer than Canary Hill in its youth, but evolves beautifully after a few years in bottle to show black fruits and fresh earth scents.

Freedom Hill Vineyard -depicting the practice of racking with inert gas

Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the Coast Range just south of Dallas, OR was planted in 1980. The site consists of a 2.85-acre block of Pommard clone that produces wines that are firm, well structured and are great for extended cellaring.

Guadalupe Vineyard – depicting the practice of punching down during fermentation

The vineyard was planted in 1989 and represents the definable change of the Jory soils of the Dundee Hills to the sedimentary soil of the Yamhill-Carlton District. It is spaced 7’ by 5’ and is planted to the Wadenswil clone. The soil, known as Willakenzie, is a well-drained shallow soil over siltstone. The vineyard consistently produces small berries and clusters that are intensely colored. The wine possesses the character of black fruits, cocoa, leather and earth.

McCrone Vineyard – depicting barrel tasting Located in the Yamhill-Carlton District, this is a densely planted vineyard (1 meter x 2 meters). The sedimentary soil, known as Wellsdale, is extremely well drained and promotes early ripening. Half of the vineyard was planted in 1992 to the Dijon 115 clone grafted on 3309. The second half was originally planted to Dijon Chardonnay clones but was grafted in 2000 to the Dijon 777 clone of Pinot noir. The wine from this site is powerful, dense and deeply colored focusing mainly on black fruits.

Meredith Mitchell Vineyard – honoring the perfect match of food and wine

The vineyard was planted in 1988 to own-rooted Pommard clone and consistently produces small clusters and berries this vineyard renders wine that is dark, intense and structured, but high acidity warrants a bit more aging.

Nysa Vineyard – depicting the critical step of sorting fruit

Planted in 1990 to own-rooted Pommard and Wadenswil, this vineyard is located in the heart of the Dundee Hills between Domaine Drouhin and Archery Summit with a southeast to northeast inclination. Jory soil. The nose exhibits a mix of red and black fruits producing wines that are forward, textural and elegant.

Savoya Vineyard – the previous artwork depicting cold and wet days

This is the first vineyard directly owned and developed by Ken Wright Cellars. Located in the Yamhill-Carlton District, the 17 acres of Wellsdale and Willakenzie soil is planted with 777 and 115 on phylloxera resistant rootstock producing a muscular wine that has aromas of dense black fruit, seared meat, cedar and anise.

Shea Vineyard – depicting the practice of shoot positioning

Fruit is sourced from three small blocks, one of which is planted to the Pommard clone, one to the 114 clone and the last to 777 clone and range in elevation from 450 to 600 feet. The wine from this vineyard has a complex array of aromas and flavors including black and red fruits, particularly blueberry, spice and earth.

2010 Chardonnay – Celilo Vineyard *and 2010 Pinot Blanc *

*substitutions of white wines for red are allowed, however an additional $50 charge will be applied. Please specify which vineyard bottlings are to replace whites.

A credit card will be charged when order is placed and wines will not be available until mid November 2010. Horizontals tend to sell out, so we do not advise waiting to place your order. We have sold out the past five years. Offer valid through March 15 after which pricing subject to change.