King Estate Pinot Gris - $16.99

Wine Details

Price: $16.99
Producer: King Estate
Region: Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Container Size: 750 ML
Flavors: almond, apple, candied, citrus, earthy, green apple, nectarine, orange
  • Award Winning
  • White Wine
Add to List

Product Description

  • Appearance: Pale straw Aroma: Tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit, melon and spice Flavor: Citrus, apple, peach with a spicy mineral finish Mouthfeel: Incredible balance between fruit and acid, crisp and clean, yet smooth and round

Expert Ratings

Ratings   Vintage Source Flavors
Tastings - 87 Details: Pale straw green color. Shy aromas of white nectarine and honeyed almond. A round, crisp entry leads to a fruity light-to-medium body of honeyed nectarine, orange zest, and yellow apple flavors. Finishes with an earthy green apple and candied citrus zest fade. Very crisp and tasty. 2005 Tastings almond, apple, candied, citrus, earthy, green apple, nectarine, orange
WineSpectator - 80 Details: Light and earthy, with an odd oily edge to the modest fruit. Drink now. 3,890 cases made. (HS) 2004 WineSpectator
WineEnthusiast - 91 Details: Pretty and elegant, it mixes detailed notes of pear, melon and light guava fruits, layered and textural. Beautifully balanced and harmonious, it’s the second straight success for this new tier of organic, estate-grown wines. 2004 WineEnthusiast earthy
Tastings - 89 Details: This Oregon winery is a specialist with Pinot Gris and this rich bottling is proof of that with its ripe melon and apple fruit. Pair this with risotto with vegetables, pasta primavera or sautéed scallops. 2004 Tastings melon, pear
WineSpectator - 88 Details: Bright and tangy, with nectarine and grapefruit notes, lingering nicely on the open-textured finish. Drink now. 48,900 cases made. –HS 2003 WineSpectator
WineEnthusiast - 91 Details: King Estate’s new high end Domaine wines, organically grown and certified, are off to a great start with this exceptional pinot gris. Stone fruits and citrus peel flavors dominate, layered and textural. The fruit is fleshy but not fat, with pear, papaya and mixed tropical highlights, and a crisp, snappy, clean finish. 2003 WineEnthusiast grapefruit, nectarine
CGCW - 86 Details: A decent wine not quite up to its mate above, this softish bottling keys on green-peach qualities and displays good palatal weight in the mouth. Still, its fruit is basic and carries a slight bitter edge. 2003 CGCW
WineSpectator - 88 Details: Bright and lively, with refreshing green apple, pear and almond flavors, lingering nicely. Drink now. 3,890 cases made. –HS 2003 WineSpectator bitter
WineNews - 91 Details: Bright straw hue. A perfumed bouquet of white peach, fig, clove and a whiff of cinnamon. Honeydew melon and pineapple flavors with a note of ginger. Juicy, ripe finish. $25 2003 WineNews almond, green apple, pear
WineNews - 91 Details: Exciting aromas of rich tropical fruit accented by apricot, honeysuckle and nutmeg. Fleshy, with deep, concentrated, complex flavors of tropical fruit, lime zest and a hint of ripe fig, finishing with notes of tangerine and baked pineapple. A boldly flavored Gris that drinks dry while the nose suggests sweetness, much like a Viognier. $25 2003 WineNews apricot, fig, honeysuckle, lime, nutmeg, pineapple, tangerine
1 2 3 4

Food Pairings

Category Pairing
Vegetables Onion Tart
Fish or Shellfish Caviar, Clam Chowder
Spicy Food Sushi
Pasta & Grains Pasta with Pesto

Awards and Accolades

  Name Vintage
Award Winner 100 Best Buys - 2008 - Wine & Spirits 2006

Wine Terms

Name Value
Oregon This state’s strict wine laws demand that variety wines must contain at least 90% of the named grape (except for Cabernet Sauvignon). The region’s cool climate comes from its proximity to the Pacific and its primary grapes are Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The latter wine is usually medium bodied, with aromas reminiscent of pears and apples and a surprising depth and complexity. Oregon Pinot Gris is a great food wine, and works especially well with seafood and salmon. Pinot Noir is a more expensive wine here, but that is because it can be such a difficult grape to grow that yields are inevitably low. The best Oregon Pinot Noirs are balanced, fruity and full.
Pinot Grigio (pee noh GREE joe)—also known as Pinot Gris, is grown mostly in northeastern Italy but is also found in Germany (where it is called Rülander), Alsace, Oregon and California. It is deeper in color than other white grapes and has a medium body and low acidity.
United States Wineries exist in all fifty states, but the most predominant (and best) wine comes from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State, with New York gaining a foothold in the industry. American wines make up about 75% of all wine sales in the US. The appellation system uses the term AVA (American Viticultural Area) to determine where wines were produced, but grape varieties can be planted anywhere in the country. American wineries generally use varietal labeling, and government regulations require that the variety on the label must make up at least 75% of the blend (in Oregon it’s 90%). The words reserve, special selection, private reserve, classic, and so on have no legal definition in the US. Some wineries use these terms to indicate their better wines; others use the words as a marketing tool to move lower quality wines off the shelf.
Oregon Pinot Gris Pinot Gris, like the closely related Pinot Noir grape, needs a cool climate and is highly sensitive to terrior, or growing conditions. Though the grape can grow in several places, it makes good wine in only a few. Pinot Gris is one of the two USA whites that are incredibly versatile with food, the other being Sauvignon Blanc. Oregon Pinot Gris has an inherent creamy yet crisp character that agrees with many foods.