2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards, Rogue Valley, Oregon
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting notes
From two Quail Run Vineyards in Oregon’s southern Rogue Valley – Fortmiller and Lakeside – this is a classic Rhône-style Viognier. Grown at higher elevations, the fruit thrives in the cooler climate. The blend of two lots, one fermented in stainless steel and the other in some new oak, brings out floral aromatics and flavorful notes of tropical and stone fruits.
Established in 1989, Quail Run Vineyards is located in the warmer growing region of southern Oregon, where Viognier thrives. Known for its natural aromatics, the wine exhibits notes of wildflower, candied peach, nutmeg, vanilla, and nectarine with hints of coconut on the nose. Barrel aging shows on the mid-palate, with flavors of ripe pear, lemon meringue, tangerine, and guava. A savory finish reveals hints of olive and white pepper.
Winemaking Process
The wine was fermented 72% in stainless steel and 28% in barrel. It then aged sur lie for five months. The barrel component was aged in French oak, imparting greater weight and spice notes to the finished wine, while the stainless steel component keeps the wine fresh and focused.
Vintage Notes
Near-perfect harvest conditions capped another outstanding growing season at King Estate. Bud break came on April 22nd followed by bloom right on time in late June. Heat spiked in August but never broke the 100-degree mark. A long stretch without rain didn’t hurt the berries and actually helped by suppressing disease. Cooler temperatures in September and October created ideal conditions to let the fruit hang and flavors intensify. Harvest on the estate began on September 21st and ran through October 22nd, yielding 1,536 tons of fruit. Rain held off, with only trace amounts falling before the harvest was in.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Quail Run Vineyards Viognier
Appellation: Rogue Valley
Alcohol: 14%
2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer, Willamette Valley
Tasting Notes
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic grape varietal that thrives in cool climate conditions. These conditions are perfectly suited for the small parcels of Gewürztraminer found on Block 19 of our own King Estate Vineyard, one of the coolest and highest elevation sites in the Willamette Valley.
This wine is made from 100% estate-grown Biodynamic® fruit. It is an enticing golden straw color in the glass, exhibiting notes of apricot, apple pie, mango, key lime, honeydew, damp slate, white rose petals, and hints of cinnamon on the nose. Those flavors continue to develop and delight on the palate. Mouthfeel is light yet juicy fruit to start. Refreshing acidity builds on the mid-palate and continues on the finish, where hints of cinnamon and roses linger.
Winemaking Process
Fermentation was in 100% stainless steel with skin contact in press for 12 hours for added varietal character. Aged sur lie for six months in stainless steel tanks.
Vintage Notes
Near-perfect harvest conditions capped another outstanding growing season at King Estate. Bud break came on April 22nd, followed by bloom right on time in late June. Heat spiked in August but never broke the 100-degree mark. A long stretch without rain didn’t hurt the berries and actually helped by suppressing disease. Cooler temperatures in September and October created ideal conditions to let the fruit hang and flavors intensify. Harvest on the estate began on September 21st and ran through October 22nd, yielding 1,536 tons of fruit. Rain held off, with only trace amounts falling before the harvest was in.
Specs
Varietal: 100% King Estate Vineyard Gewürztraminer
AVA: Willamette Valley
Alcohol: 13.5%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
3x 2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards, Rogue Valley
3x 2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer, Willamette Valley
Case:
6x 2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards, Rogue Valley
6x 2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer, Willamette Valley
When King Estate was founded in 1991, it was driven by a commitment to sustainability and profound respect for the land. The adventurous spirit that inspired us from the beginning continues to guide us as we nurture our vineyards to craft premium Oregon wines.
The King Estate story is woven into the history of Oregon wine, where winemaking is synonymous with discovery and sustainability. The last 30 years have been focused on innovation, craft, and a deep sense of respect for the land, the vines, and the people who enjoy our wines. We have been establishing our traditions, one vintage at a time.
Crafted with an artisanal style that celebrates the unique characteristics of the Pacific Northwest, our sustainably grown and thoughtfully produced wines are world-renowned.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
King Estate Mixed Whites - $25 = 15.62%
Gewurtz, Enthusiast:
87 points. The apple and orange flavors are rounded out with some residual sweetness, which tends to open up the fruitiness while muting the distinctive flower and talc aromatics typical of the grape. This is a fruity, forward wine sliding close to an off-dry impression. — Paul Gregutt 3/1/21
Viognier, also WE:
92 points. This is a blend of two lots, one fermented in stainless, one in new oak. It’s a lovely, acid-driven wine, with pinpoint flavors of lemon, lime, gooseberry and green apple. The botanical highlights often found in Viognier are light, and the overall balance is excellent. — Paul Gregutt 10/1/20
I know y’all are pretty familiar with King Estate, and this is a little dated (2021), but a little blurb here
We were lucky enough to be asked to Lab Rat the Kings Estate Gewürztraminer. We are always excited to open a bottle of wine from Willamette Valley! Light golden hues and very fruit forward aromatics when first poured.
Knowing this wine varietal leans more to the sweet side we decided to pair it with a bright spring meal of lightly breaded cod and minted peas. The weather here in Colorado cooperated with a warmish spring day which added to the ambiance.
The Gewürztraminer did not disappoint in adding to the brightness of our meal. It was light and fruity with a bit of sweetness that was not overwhelming. Semi sweet but as expected had more viscosity and aroma than other lighter white varietals. Collectively we picked up notes of melon and green jolly rancher. The wine paired exceptionally with the minty fresh peas and really enhanced the flavors.
Normally we’d lean towards a spicier meal with a
Gewürztraminer, but we agreed that pairing this aromatic wine with brighter spring flavors really accentuated the fruity bouquet in this particular bottle. Everyone at the table enjoyed the pairing and felt this was a nice kickoff for an Easter weekend.
We wished we had another bottle on Easter as we agreed the Gewürztraminer would have been a welcomed accompaniment to our cheese board, particularly the Humboldt Fog and goat cheese with honey.
We would recommend having a couple of bottles on hand this beautiful spring season, as they would be a complement to the flavors of the season. Enjoy!!
Co-incidentally I found a King Estate Viognier this weekend, 2016 but not vineyard-designate. I do find Viognier best with a few years on it.
I think the price is a bit higher this time but it’s a different offering, and what’s NOT a bit higher these days. Always liked the Oregon white varietals. Seriously considering it though I have a basement full of wine boxes.
TL;DR The bouquet is great. The taste is {fine}. At this price and with the (apparently) fantastic Gewürztraminer, it’s worth it for a case.
Good afternoon Mates. I was lucky enough to rat the Viognier over the weekend. I was completely negligent about photos, however, as we sampled it for Easter dinner and I was a cooking madwoman.
Viognier is typically one of my favorite varietals, as I am not a big Chard fan, but occasionally want a white wine with some oomph.
Myself, DH, Son 1, DIL and Son 2 all tasted this on Saturday evening. We were snacking on a cheese board, fried artichokes, and crispy potatoes with sour cream and smoked salmon.
The bouquet was amazing. VERY fragrant. I immediately picked up peaches and nectarines. Slightly floral. Hints of some kind of baked goods. (Reading the notes, vanilla and nutmeg for sure.) I literally stuck my nose in the glass for more.
And that was the end of amazing. I took a sip. And it was, well, nice. We let it sit and get to more of a room temperature. The bouquet opened up EVEN more! But the taste didn’t change. All in all, it was a very interesting wine, but we were all hoping for something more flavorful in the mouth, not just the nose and it left us slightly disappointed. DIL and I would have had another glass. Son 1 and DH would not. And Son 2 didn’t finish his first, but he’s not much of a wine drinker.
Knowing the price, however, I’d say it’s an EXCELLENT $11 white. And reminds me a great deal (in flavor, not aroma) of a basic steel fermented Chardonnay. If that’s your jam (it is mine), then go for it.
@veevandyke Sounds like temp was maybe a bit too cool for an aging Viognier. But yes at this age brightness will be softened and you are looking for deeper (darker?) subtle notes and textures. Having tried the 2016 purely by co-incidence, I was happy with its notes and complexity. This was at basement temp about 60 degrees. But as mentioned this is a different vintage and this one is vineyard-designate but with different treatment.
2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards, Rogue Valley, Oregon
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting notes
Winemaking Process
Vintage Notes
Specs
2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer, Willamette Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Process
Vintage Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$372.00/Case for 6x 2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards, Rogue Valley + 6x 2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer, Willamette Valley at King Estate Winery
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, May 12 - Tuesday, May 13
King Estate Mixed Whites
6 bottles for $79.99 $13.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $134.99 $11.25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards
2018 King Estate Gewürztraminer
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
King Estate Mixed Whites - $25 = 15.62%
Gewurtz, Enthusiast:
87 points. The apple and orange flavors are rounded out with some residual sweetness, which tends to open up the fruitiness while muting the distinctive flower and talc aromatics typical of the grape. This is a fruity, forward wine sliding close to an off-dry impression. — Paul Gregutt 3/1/21
Viognier, also WE:
92 points. This is a blend of two lots, one fermented in stainless, one in new oak. It’s a lovely, acid-driven wine, with pinpoint flavors of lemon, lime, gooseberry and green apple. The botanical highlights often found in Viognier are light, and the overall balance is excellent. — Paul Gregutt 10/1/20
I know y’all are pretty familiar with King Estate, and this is a little dated (2021), but a little blurb here
and that’s about it
fwiw
@lpitt656 said 9 hours ago:
Review of King Estate GEWÜRZTRAMINER
To start, this wine is simply delicious. For easy reading I’ve broken down my thoughts into bullets below.
[mod] had to move this misplaced LRR from there to here
We were lucky enough to be asked to Lab Rat the Kings Estate Gewürztraminer. We are always excited to open a bottle of wine from Willamette Valley! Light golden hues and very fruit forward aromatics when first poured.
Knowing this wine varietal leans more to the sweet side we decided to pair it with a bright spring meal of lightly breaded cod and minted peas. The weather here in Colorado cooperated with a warmish spring day which added to the ambiance.
The Gewürztraminer did not disappoint in adding to the brightness of our meal. It was light and fruity with a bit of sweetness that was not overwhelming. Semi sweet but as expected had more viscosity and aroma than other lighter white varietals. Collectively we picked up notes of melon and green jolly rancher. The wine paired exceptionally with the minty fresh peas and really enhanced the flavors.
Normally we’d lean towards a spicier meal with a
Gewürztraminer, but we agreed that pairing this aromatic wine with brighter spring flavors really accentuated the fruity bouquet in this particular bottle. Everyone at the table enjoyed the pairing and felt this was a nice kickoff for an Easter weekend.
We wished we had another bottle on Easter as we agreed the Gewürztraminer would have been a welcomed accompaniment to our cheese board, particularly the Humboldt Fog and goat cheese with honey.
We would recommend having a couple of bottles on hand this beautiful spring season, as they would be a complement to the flavors of the season. Enjoy!!
Co-incidentally I found a King Estate Viognier this weekend, 2016 but not vineyard-designate. I do find Viognier best with a few years on it.
I think the price is a bit higher this time but it’s a different offering, and what’s NOT a bit higher these days. Always liked the Oregon white varietals. Seriously considering it though I have a basement full of wine boxes.
2018 King Estate Viognier, Quail Run Vineyards
TL;DR The bouquet is great. The taste is {fine}. At this price and with the (apparently) fantastic Gewürztraminer, it’s worth it for a case.
Good afternoon Mates.
I was lucky enough to rat the Viognier over the weekend. I was completely negligent about photos, however, as we sampled it for Easter dinner and I was a cooking madwoman.
Viognier is typically one of my favorite varietals, as I am not a big Chard fan, but occasionally want a white wine with some oomph.
Myself, DH, Son 1, DIL and Son 2 all tasted this on Saturday evening. We were snacking on a cheese board, fried artichokes, and crispy potatoes with sour cream and smoked salmon.
The bouquet was amazing. VERY fragrant. I immediately picked up peaches and nectarines. Slightly floral. Hints of some kind of baked goods. (Reading the notes, vanilla and nutmeg for sure.) I literally stuck my nose in the glass for more.
And that was the end of amazing. I took a sip. And it was, well, nice. We let it sit and get to more of a room temperature. The bouquet opened up EVEN more! But the taste didn’t change. All in all, it was a very interesting wine, but we were all hoping for something more flavorful in the mouth, not just the nose and it left us slightly disappointed. DIL and I would have had another glass. Son 1 and DH would not. And Son 2 didn’t finish his first, but he’s not much of a wine drinker.
Knowing the price, however, I’d say it’s an EXCELLENT $11 white. And reminds me a great deal (in flavor, not aroma) of a basic steel fermented Chardonnay. If that’s your jam (it is mine), then go for it.
@veevandyke Sounds like temp was maybe a bit too cool for an aging Viognier. But yes at this age brightness will be softened and you are looking for deeper (darker?) subtle notes and textures. Having tried the 2016 purely by co-incidence, I was happy with its notes and complexity. This was at basement temp about 60 degrees. But as mentioned this is a different vintage and this one is vineyard-designate but with different treatment.
I liked it back in 2023 when they had this mixed case. In for another.