Ken Wright Cellars 2022 Pinot Noir Guadalupe Vineyard 750ml

Ken Wright has spent more than 40 years building a single guiding philosophy: source is everything. Founded in historic downtown Carlton, Oregon, in 1994 — after Wright first moved to McMinnville in 1986 with his family, belongings, and just ten barrels in tow to start Panther Creek Cellars — Ken Wright Cellars now produces single-vineyard Pinot Noir from thirteen distinct sites across the Northern Willamette Valley, with an approach the winery describes as one of stewardship rather than manipulation. Rather than stamping every wine with a house style, Wright treats Pinot Noir as "the ultimate vehicle for conveying the aroma, flavor and texture of the location in which it is grown."

Guadalupe Vineyard, in the Dundee Hills AVA, was originally planted in 1989 on a south-facing slope at roughly 350 feet elevation, on ancient marine sediment and Willakenzie soils — sustainably farmed across 15.43 acres spanning clones 115, Wädenswil, 777, and Pommard. The relationship between Ken Wright Cellars and this specific site runs genuinely deep: after 20 years of "investing in 'brand' Guadalupe," as the winery's own team puts it, owners Kathleen Boeve and Jim Stonebridge offered Ken Wright Cellars the chance to lease the entire vineyard outright — a significant development the winery calls a moment of real gratitude, securing Guadalupe as part of their portfolio "for decades to come."

Wine Spectator awarded 94 Points, describing "a distinctive red, with broad shoulders" that "retains a sense of finesse and richness, offering raspberry and guava flavors accented by forest floor, rose petal and black tea notes," finishing "with medium-grained tannins," and recommending it be enjoyed "now through 2033." The winery's own tasting notes describe something genuinely distinctive within their own range: "the aromatic profiles tend to be dominated by red and blue fruits, though Guadalupe was all about chocolate and tobacco. There is an attractive sappy sweetness that pleasantly coats the palate." Ken Wright Cellars' own shop copy adds further detail: "savory floral and spice focused — a luscious core of plum and raspberry leap out of the glass with delicate aromas of lilac, hyacinth and fresh linen," with "velvety tannins" coating the palate. Wine.com's tasting confirms "floral and spice focused" character, "very forward and attractive in its youth with a depth of flavor — raspberry, mulberry combine with morel mushroom for an earthy" complexity, alongside "blue & red fruits of blueberry and raspberry with delicate anise and cola notes," and "opulent texture and a luscious mouth feel." This is genuinely serious, terroir-driven Oregon Pinot Noir from one of the Willamette Valley's most respected, single-vineyard-focused producers.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Ken Wright Cellars was founded in 1994 in Carlton, Oregon, by Ken Wright, who first moved to the Willamette Valley in 1986 to start Panther Creek Cellars, where his focus on vineyard-designate bottling first took root. Ken Wright Cellars now produces single-vineyard Pinot Noir from thirteen distinct sites across the Northern Willamette Valley.

Guadalupe Vineyard, in the Dundee Hills AVA, was planted in 1989 on a south-facing slope at approximately 350 feet elevation, on ancient marine sediment parent material with Willakenzie soil series. The vineyard is sustainably farmed across 15.43 acres, planted to clones 115, Wädenswil, 777, and Pommard, owned by Kathleen Boeve and Jim Stonebridge, with vineyard management by Joel Myers and vineyard consulting from Mark Gould of Ken Wright Cellars. Each vineyard block, further separated by clone, is hand-sorted, fermented in small 1¼-ton open vat fermenters until dryness, then pressed and aged separately in 100% French oak barrels for approximately one year.

Critics Reviews

Wine Spectator — 94 Points:
"A distinctive red, with broad shoulders. Yet this retains a sense of finesse and richness, offering raspberry and guava flavors accented by forest floor, rose petal and black tea notes. Finishes with medium-grained tannins." Drink now through 2033.

Ken Wright Cellars (official tasting notes):
"The aromatic profiles tend to be dominated by red and blue fruits, though Guadalupe was all about chocolate and tobacco. There is an attractive sappy sweetness that pleasantly coats the palate."

Ken Wright Cellars (official shop tasting note):
"Savory floral and spice focused — a luscious core of plum and raspberry leap out of the glass with delicate aromas of lilac, hyacinth and fresh linen. Velvety tannins coat the palate."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Floral and spice-focused, with a luscious core of plum and raspberry, joined by delicate lilac, hyacinth, and fresh linen, alongside chocolate and tobacco notes distinctive to this specific site.

Palate
Raspberry and guava carry the entry, accented by forest floor, rose petal, and black tea, developing blueberry, anise, and cola, with an opulent, luscious texture and an attractive sappy sweetness.

Finish
Medium-grained tannins close the wine, velvety and richly structured — a genuinely distinctive, broad-shouldered finish with real aging potential through 2033.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roast duck or squab
• Mushroom-forward dishes
• Grilled salmon
• Earthy, savory braises