2005 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Abbott Claim Vineyard

The 2005 Pinot Noir “Abbott Claim Vineyard” comes from a vineyard that Ken Wright developed and purchased in 2000. Opaque purple-colored (the most saturated of the portfolio), it offers a fragrant perfume of pain grille, scorched earth, smoke, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. The layers of sweet black fruits are matched by crisp acidity and well-concealed tannin. The finish is long and pure. Give it 4-6 years and drink it through 2027. Ken Wright has a Syrah/Claret project under the Tyrus Evans label. The fruit is sourced from southern Oregon and eastern Washington. I tasted four wines, all of them outstanding. I list them without tasting notes: 2004 Claret “Del Rio Vineyard – 90; 2004 Claret “Ciel du Cheval Vineyard” – 91; 2005 Syrah, Walla Walla – 92; 2005 Syrah “Del Rio Vineyard” – 90+. Ken Wright Cellars has long been one of the reference points for Pinot Noir fanatics. Ken Wright is the ultimate terroirist, stating on his web site (which I highly recommend reading) that the value of Pinot Noir is that it is the perfect vehicle for expressing the characteristics of the site in which it is grown. He says that the secret to making great Pinot Noir is “?learning how to farm. Every vineyard has its own issues.” Tel. (800) 571-6825; www.kenwrightcellars.com. Also tasted: 2005 Pinot Blanc (91), 2005 Chardonnay “Celilo Vineyard” (93)