2016 King Estate Quail Run Roussanne-Marsanne, Rogue Valley
Gold & Outstanding, Wine Press Northwest
Tasting Notes
This rich and succulent wine is unique in its ability to showcase delicate flavors such as apricot and honeysuckle while retaining a full-bodied roundness that is complemented by balanced oak. The nose has generous notes of cantaloupe, honeysuckle, vanilla bean, and toast. The wine makes a rich and round entrance on the palate, boasting flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, dried tea leaves, and sweet French oak. The layers of fruit and oak notes provide nuanced complexity to the mid-palate. The finish is elegant and lingering.
Vineyard Notes
Quail Run Vineyards was established in 1989 in the warmer growing region of southern Oregon. The history of this classic blend of Roussanne and Marsanne is rooted in France’s Rhône Valley. Our blend comes from the warm climate of Oregon’s Rogue Valley. Each grape brings unique characteristics: structure and slightly more acid from Roussanne; richness from Marsanne; and silkiness with apricot notes from Viognier.
Winemaker Process
The fruit is 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, then aged sur lie for seven months in French oak, 35% new.
Vintage Notes
Oregon’s string of remarkable years with ideal growing conditions continued in 2016. In the Rogue Valley, 2016 was the third straight year of early and warm vintages. The vintage started out with bud break occurring in mid- to late March, a couple of weeks earlier than usual. Moderate weather through the entire summer provided even growing conditions. Unusually warm temperatures in April and May were followed by cooler weather through August, providing the opportunity for much longer hang times and allowing for richer flavors to develop. Quality was quite good to exceptional.
Situated at the tip of the Willamette Valley just southwest of Eugene, OR, our beautiful Estate is where our story begins. Our family-owned winery is dedicated to quality without compromise. We responsibly produce world-class wines that are consistently excellent, consistently available, and consistently reasonable in their price. That’s been our covenant to you, the people who support our winemaking.
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, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI
This is a white wine produced in Oregon that is composed of 60% Roussanne, 30% Marsanne, and 10% Viognier.
I must admit when I first looked at this bottle and saw the grape varietals composing it I had only heard of Viognier, which was the least significant component, so I had no idea what to expect from this.
I was able to let the wine rest for a day after shipping before opening it, and started out with it at around 58 degrees Fahrenheit (a little warmer than most folks drink white wine, but I find this brings out the most flavor)
The wine bottle uses a natural cork which was in good condition. After pouring some into a glass I was surprised immediately at how light the color was, like pale straw.
Like the color, the nose was equally muted at first. With white wines I’m most accustomed to the heavy malolactic chardonnays and similar (just like what Miles was ranting about in the movie Sideways), but this has none of that, instead tending to the soft and delicate citrusy side.
Taking a sip, it’s a very light and almost refreshing drink. There’s a hint of apple crispness and a touch of sweetness; I think it would be difficult to find anything not to like about this unless you need something strong and bold. If I really pay close attention to my taste buds there seems to be a hint of wildflower honey and lemon, but only faintly in the distance.
It’s a good sipping wine, and doesn’t necessarily need any food pairing to really shine, though I suspect it would go very well with a cheese platter. At this price it’s hard to pass up.
Luckily, got the bottle with a few days to plan a meal.
First impressions were nice hefty bottle and some of my favorite varietals - Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. Foil also very thick metal, which I haven’t seen in quite some time. Then again, maybe I just don’t drink the highest end/price juice. Regardless, the outside certainly gives impression of quality, so let’s see about the inside. Interested to note the 2016 vintage.
Obligatory back label:
Color is nice pale yellow, no brown/orange tinting at the sides. Maybe a touch lighter than I would expect, could mean less time on the wood.
Initial aroma relatively light, some slight floral, but 5 minutes after removal from the fridge, not too much. Another 5 minutes in the glass, clearly warming and more expressive - more prominent apricot and a bit of honeysuckle on the nose. Much sweeter profile than I was expecting.
First sip, still fairy chilled. Comes across as crisp, with just a touch of the oiliness that I like from Rhone whites. Medium to full mouthfeel, plenty of acidity, and I am looking forward to trying with the food. More apricot flavor, a hint of green apple, and something that reminds me of white tea. Not too much floral on the palate. The ending surprisingly long, a bit more vanilla, but not overly oaky-vanilla if that makes sense.
another 5-10 minutes warming in the glass, and with a meal of baked salmon in butter sauce, garlic parmesan sauteed spinach, and the wine shows some very interesting depth. It appears crisp to cut through the fattiness of butter and cheese, while still providing a lengthy finish. Much more prominent florals on the palate with the food. Still the apricot and maybe more peach now. Just a hint of gasoline with the cheesy garlic spinach, but now I’m wishing I added some nuts to the mix. More toffee and oak flavors with the salmon. Before I know it, my second glass is gone, and I want to save some for another day to see how it holds up.
From Michelle: Crisp. Apples? Sweet but not overly so. Nice aftertaste. No gasoline. Goes well with dinner.
After sitting in the fridge for 1.5 days past opening:
Nose - still apricot and honeysuckle. Not much different.
Taste - still medium+ body, lost a touch of the apple, still apricot. That white tea impression is still there, but I continue to think that is the wrong description. All the other deliciousness from previous tasting is there. Maybe slightly more oak prominence, but that is definitely not the primary flavor.
All in all, I was excited when I got the bottle and saw the Rhone blend. I was thrilled with the wine as a whole. I do think it will last another few years at least, but my experience with understanding ageability in whites is definitely lacking.
I said to Michelle that I expected this to come in at $18-20/bottle. I see this at $8-11 and will definitely buy a case. Also, I promise I didn’t read the description prior to this review, so am a bit surprised, as I seldom use so many of the same words in my notes.
Thanks casemates, Alice, and WineDavid for the opportunity to support the community with my wine rattage!
@jasisk Thanks, Joel and Michelle. I got really excited when I first saw the offer, loving those grapes as we do. However, I was worried about oakiness when I noticed the age and read the Winemaker Process notes, but you’ve reassured me.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 King Estate Roussanne-Marsanne - $30 = 23.06%
Thrilled to see this offer; it’s one of my favorite white blends. I was hoping for something like this to serve at Thanksgiving but I’ll take it now!
misleading-helpful-smoke
Can either the Winery or @WineDavid49 confirm that VT isn’t a ship-to state? Usually, the “ships to all non-nanny-states!” offerings include VT (and I’m in for a case if it does).
What’s the deal with CT and white wines? Pretty much no white wines ship to CT, but basically all the reds do.
Someone has asked me about NY, but even though I’m in Fairfield county, my house is about as far from NY as it gets. At least a 2-3 hour round-trip, which I think is a bit much for wine.
@Pamelacross54 WOW, your 1st purchase!!! Welcome to Casemates blog! The wine never disappoints us in NEO, even when our storage space disappears and we can’t see over the boxes! After years of purchasing, you’ll understand the true meaning of SIWBM!
2016 King Estate Quail Run Roussanne-Marsanne, Rogue Valley
Gold & Outstanding, Wine Press Northwest
Tasting Notes
Vineyard Notes
Winemaker Process
Vintage Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$360.00/Case for 12x 2016 King Estate Quail Run Roussanne-Marsanne, Rogue 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, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jan 23 - Tuesday, Jan 24
2016 King Estate Roussanne-Marsanne
6 bottles for $64.99 $10.83/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Lab Rat Report on the
2016 King Estate Quail Run Roussanne / Marsanne
This is a white wine produced in Oregon that is composed of 60% Roussanne, 30% Marsanne, and 10% Viognier.
I must admit when I first looked at this bottle and saw the grape varietals composing it I had only heard of Viognier, which was the least significant component, so I had no idea what to expect from this.
I was able to let the wine rest for a day after shipping before opening it, and started out with it at around 58 degrees Fahrenheit (a little warmer than most folks drink white wine, but I find this brings out the most flavor)
The wine bottle uses a natural cork which was in good condition. After pouring some into a glass I was surprised immediately at how light the color was, like pale straw.
Like the color, the nose was equally muted at first. With white wines I’m most accustomed to the heavy malolactic chardonnays and similar (just like what Miles was ranting about in the movie Sideways), but this has none of that, instead tending to the soft and delicate citrusy side.
Taking a sip, it’s a very light and almost refreshing drink. There’s a hint of apple crispness and a touch of sweetness; I think it would be difficult to find anything not to like about this unless you need something strong and bold. If I really pay close attention to my taste buds there seems to be a hint of wildflower honey and lemon, but only faintly in the distance.
It’s a good sipping wine, and doesn’t necessarily need any food pairing to really shine, though I suspect it would go very well with a cheese platter. At this price it’s hard to pass up.
Labral reporting for duty!
Luckily, got the bottle with a few days to plan a meal.
First impressions were nice hefty bottle and some of my favorite varietals - Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. Foil also very thick metal, which I haven’t seen in quite some time. Then again, maybe I just don’t drink the highest end/price juice. Regardless, the outside certainly gives impression of quality, so let’s see about the inside. Interested to note the 2016 vintage.
Obligatory back label:
Color is nice pale yellow, no brown/orange tinting at the sides. Maybe a touch lighter than I would expect, could mean less time on the wood.
Initial aroma relatively light, some slight floral, but 5 minutes after removal from the fridge, not too much. Another 5 minutes in the glass, clearly warming and more expressive - more prominent apricot and a bit of honeysuckle on the nose. Much sweeter profile than I was expecting.
First sip, still fairy chilled. Comes across as crisp, with just a touch of the oiliness that I like from Rhone whites. Medium to full mouthfeel, plenty of acidity, and I am looking forward to trying with the food. More apricot flavor, a hint of green apple, and something that reminds me of white tea. Not too much floral on the palate. The ending surprisingly long, a bit more vanilla, but not overly oaky-vanilla if that makes sense.
another 5-10 minutes warming in the glass, and with a meal of baked salmon in butter sauce, garlic parmesan sauteed spinach, and the wine shows some very interesting depth. It appears crisp to cut through the fattiness of butter and cheese, while still providing a lengthy finish. Much more prominent florals on the palate with the food. Still the apricot and maybe more peach now. Just a hint of gasoline with the cheesy garlic spinach, but now I’m wishing I added some nuts to the mix. More toffee and oak flavors with the salmon. Before I know it, my second glass is gone, and I want to save some for another day to see how it holds up.
From Michelle: Crisp. Apples? Sweet but not overly so. Nice aftertaste. No gasoline. Goes well with dinner.
After sitting in the fridge for 1.5 days past opening:
Nose - still apricot and honeysuckle. Not much different.
Taste - still medium+ body, lost a touch of the apple, still apricot. That white tea impression is still there, but I continue to think that is the wrong description. All the other deliciousness from previous tasting is there. Maybe slightly more oak prominence, but that is definitely not the primary flavor.
All in all, I was excited when I got the bottle and saw the Rhone blend. I was thrilled with the wine as a whole. I do think it will last another few years at least, but my experience with understanding ageability in whites is definitely lacking.
I said to Michelle that I expected this to come in at $18-20/bottle. I see this at $8-11 and will definitely buy a case. Also, I promise I didn’t read the description prior to this review, so am a bit surprised, as I seldom use so many of the same words in my notes.
Thanks casemates, Alice, and WineDavid for the opportunity to support the community with my wine rattage!
@jasisk Thanks, Joel and Michelle. I got really excited when I first saw the offer, loving those grapes as we do. However, I was worried about oakiness when I noticed the age and read the Winemaker Process notes, but you’ve reassured me.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 King Estate Roussanne-Marsanne - $30 = 23.06%
Thrilled to see this offer; it’s one of my favorite white blends. I was hoping for something like this to serve at Thanksgiving but I’ll take it now!
misleading-helpful-smoke
/giphy misleading-helpful-smoke
Can either the Winery or @WineDavid49 confirm that VT isn’t a ship-to state? Usually, the “ships to all non-nanny-states!” offerings include VT (and I’m in for a case if it does).
@corrado well hello Corrado. i’ll be checking. stand by!
@corrado VT is a nogo. sorry!
@Winedavid49
/giphy crying
@Winedavid49 Thanks for checking!
What’s the deal with CT and white wines? Pretty much no white wines ship to CT, but basically all the reds do.
Someone has asked me about NY, but even though I’m in Fairfield county, my house is about as far from NY as it gets. At least a 2-3 hour round-trip, which I think is a bit much for wine.
@ctviggen Yep, another wine I was going to get but can’t!
Just made my first purchase. I can’t wait for it to arrive
@Pamelacross54 WOW, your 1st purchase!!! Welcome to Casemates blog! The wine never disappoints us in NEO, even when our storage space disappears and we can’t see over the boxes! After years of purchasing, you’ll understand the true meaning of SIWBM!
I read the Rats, got excited, I was ready to bust out my Mystery Reds $15 coupon annnnnnd it doesn’t ship to Ohio.
@jasonjm confirmed with winery. no ohio. sorry.
Looks like cases are sold out but 6 packs are still available. Any more full cases available?
@geshaghi @winedavid49
Any chance on those cases?
@rjquillin @Winedavid49
Thanks, case ordered
@geshaghi @Winedavid49
Thanks WD
Like the blend on this one! (and cases are back)
/giphy torrential-ghoulish-rod
