Oregon’s King Estate: Biodynamic King of North America

Founded in 1991 by Ed King, the King Estate is today the largest certified biodynamic vineyard in North America. With the recent purchase of the Pfeiffer Vineyard, it now has 535 acres of estate vineyards in the Willamette Valley southwest of Eugene, Oregon, 465 acres of which are Demeter certified biodynamic.  In addition King Estate purchases fruit from about 50 growers in Oregon and Washington State.  It’s a large operation, working with 25+ grape varieties and producing 50-60 different wines.  Brent Stone, a graduate of the Washington State University wine program, is the lead winemaker and co-CEO; Barrett Rosteck is associate winemaker, and Matt Danner and Leah Lyon are assistant winemakers. Vineyard manager Melitón Martínez oversees the estate’s biodynamic vineyard.  The King Estate is actively trying to reduce its carbon footprint by managing its supply chain, reducing bottle weight, and other proactive measures. Below we review several of the winery’s widely distributed wines.

The Wines

Ed King

King Estate 2022 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley ($19) 91 Pale platinum straw. Opening with scents of citrus and green apple, this is a mineral-like Pinot Gris, delicate on the palate, fresh and easy drinking. Perfect for sipping or pairing with salads or other light cuisine. Sourced from a mix of Willamette Valley vineyards. pH 3.18, 13.5% alc.

King Estate 2021 Grüner Veltliner Havlin Vineyard Willamette Valley ($24) 91 This single vineyard Grüner Veltliner offers pleasant aromas and flavors of orchard and melon fruit. It’s well balanced with good acidity and freshness and has a long finish. It most resembles a Grüner from Austria’s Weinviertel region. pH 3.15, 13.5% alc.

King Estate 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Oregon 90 This a flavorful Sauvignon Blanc with good varietal character. It opens with scents of white grapefruit accented by garden fresh string beans. Nicely concentrated flavors of citrus with herbal notes show on a round, fresh palate. Clean finish. A blend of 95% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon. pH 3.1, 13.5% alc.

King Estate 2021 Chardonnay Willamette Valley ($22) 90 A blend of several vineyards, this Chardonnay is nicely balanced with light citrus like flavors. It’s an easy drinking wine with good focus and freshness and a lingering finish. pH 3.21, 13.5% alc.

King Estate 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($20) 90 Light blush pink. Opens with a bouquet of red cherry skin and pomegranate. Fresh and clean on the attack with light red berry and cherry flavors complemented by lively acidity. An easy drinking rosé that’s best served as an aperitif. Whole cluster pressed and fermented and aged in stainless steel. pH 3.23, 12.9% alc.

King Estate 2022 Inscription Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($20) 90 Medium dark red. Opens with a reticent nose of sweet red berries with herbaceous notes. The palate reveals medium concentration of berry, cherry and cooking spice flavor enlivened by acidity and finishing with fine dry tannins. Sourced from several vineyards with a variety of fermentation techniques. pH 3.43, 13.1% alc.

King Estate 2021 Domaine Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($70) 94 Medium dark red. Deep dark red fruit aromas complemented by spice and savory notes. Shows significant flavor authority of dark fruit with briar notes on an expansive palate. Finishes fine and long with well-knit tannins and a lingering sense of freshness. Sourced from biodynamic cultivated estate vineyards. pH 3.28, 12.6% alc.

Vineyard Manager Melitón Martínez

King Estate 2018 7 Rows Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($120) 95 Inky dark red. This is a very impressive wine made from a single clone grown in a single vineyard with abundant quantities of opulent flavors, striking purity and impeccable balance. It opens with scents of dark cherry, spice, and a hint of balsamic that are mirrored on the palate along with notes of black raspberry and loamy earth. Mouthfilling, perfectly calibrated, and finishes with excellent persistence and round tannins. Sourced from estate grown, biodynamic cultivated clone 115 Pinot Noir in block 11A. 12.5% alc.

King Estate 2019 The Soldier Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley ($23) 91 Medium dark red. The Soldier is a Bordeaux blend that shows an attractive bouquet of spicy red plum with a hint of tobacco leaf. It’s soft on entry and the medium weight, red fruited palate has a firm backbone; finishes dry. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from 5 different vineyards. 3.49 pH, 14.4% alc. Excellent value.