Named after the soil that defines it, WillaKenzie Estate is a small, family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir. They make wonderful wines exclusively from the Pinot family of grapes: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay Noir made in the Beaujolais Cru style. All the wines are entirely from estate grown fruit.
 Owner Bernard Lacroute developed a passion for Pinot Noir in his native Burgundy. In January 1991, Bernard and Ronni Lacroute purchased the ideal Pinot site they had been seeking: a beautiful 420-acre ranch in Yamhill County which they began planting to grapevines in 1992. Today, more than 100 acres of vineyards are arranged on the rolling hills below the Chehalem mountains, around untouched stands of majestic, native Douglas fir and oak.
 The European theme continues with the remaining key staff at WillaKenzie: with a degree in oenology from the University of Bordeaux, Thibaud Mandet brings a French touch to the art and science of winemaking. Vineyard manager Daniel Fey's family has farmed grapes in Switzerland for generations.
 The Pinot Gris is made in a rich and complex Alsatian style, fermented in stainless steel it has generous aromatics, a pleasingly rich mouthfeel dominated by ripe pear, peach and a touch of grapefruit. The Pinot Blanc also sees no wood and has flavours and aromas of stone fruit, orange blossom and honeysuckle with a light minerality and a crisp finish. The Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a selection of different estate grown Pinot Noir clones aged in French oak for 11 months. It has a bright garnet colour, red fruit aromas followed by lively cherry, plum and cranberry with a hint of earthiness. It is ready to drink now and will improve over the next three years or so. Pierre Léon is also a vineyard selection: more powerful and complex it has firm structure and smooth tannins. Intense yet elegant it will continue to improve in the cellar for up to ten years. Emery is a single vineyard on a south-facing bench with deeper topsoil than elsewhere on the estate. This big concentrated wine is bold and powerful, leaping out of the glass with a suggestion of blackcurrant. Polished and elegant, Kiana is also a single vineyard wine, planted in 1996 with clones 777 and 114. It has smooth and silky tannins, a sensual mouthfeel and complex aromatics.