Ken Wright Cellars 2023 Pinot Noir Canary Hill Vineyard Willamette Valley 750ml

Canary Hill is one of Ken Wright Cellars' original vineyard-designated sites, part of the same landmark 1990 vintage that first established Ken Wright's commitment to single-vineyard Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley — the winery's very first year producing vineyard-designated wine included both Carter and Canary Hill. That history places Canary Hill among the true foundational sites in Ken Wright's now thirteen-vineyard Northern Willamette Valley portfolio, treated with the same guiding philosophy the winery applies across its entire single-vineyard program: Pinot Noir as, in Ken Wright's own words, "the ultimate vehicle for conveying the aroma, flavor and texture of the location in which it is grown," rather than a wine stamped with a single house style.

The 2023 vintage has earned genuine, consistent praise from two of the wine world's most respected publications. Wine Spectator awarded 93 Points, describing the wine as "precise and expressive," highlighting "raspberry, cherry, green tea, rose petal, and dusky spice notes." Wine Enthusiast matched that with 93 Points, noting aromas of "Bing cherry dusted with powdered sugar" alongside "wet slate," and praising "a smooth, gentle mouthfeel." Together, these two scores reflect a wine that's both precise and generous — bright red fruit layered with genuine floral and mineral complexity, carried on a texture reviewers consistently describe as soft and approachable rather than heavily tannic.

This is genuinely well-reviewed, classically styled Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from one of Ken Wright Cellars' most historically significant vineyard relationships — a real showcase of Canary Hill's own specific terroir, built with the same patient, site-focused winemaking philosophy that's defined the winery since its founding in 1993.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Ken Wright Cellars produces single-vineyard Pinot Noir from thirteen distinct sites across the Northern Willamette Valley, founded in Carlton, Oregon in 1993 by Ken Wright, whose winemaking career began in Monterey County, California, before a 1976 trip to Oregon's Dundee Hills convinced him this was where the finest Pinot Noir in North America was being grown.

Canary Hill Vineyard was one of the original two sites included in Ken Wright's first vintage of vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, in 1990 — a relationship that has continued for more than three decades. The winery's approach across all thirteen vineyard sites emphasizes letting each individual location express its own distinct character, rather than imposing a uniform house style.

Critics Reviews

Wine Spectator — 93 Points:
"Precise and expressive, highlighting raspberry, cherry, green tea, rose petal, and dusky spice notes."

Wine Enthusiast — 93 Points:
"Noted for its aromas of Bing cherry dusted with powdered sugar, wet slate, and a smooth, gentle mouthfeel."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bing cherry dusted with powdered sugar leads, joined by wet slate, raspberry, rose petal, and dusky spice, alongside green tea.

Palate
Precise and expressive, with bright cherry and raspberry fruit carrying real freshness, balanced by floral rose petal and gentle spice.

Finish
Smooth and gentle, closing with lingering mineral character and soft, approachable tannin — genuinely elegant and well-balanced.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roast duck or squab
• Mushroom-forward dishes
• Grilled salmon
• Soft, earthy cheeses