Vineyard: Zena Crown

AppellationEola-Amity Hills
VarietiesPinot Noir

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2015 Soléna Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir

14.6% all., pH 3.75, 150 cases, $50. Volcanic Nokia soils. Harvest Brix 26.0º. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose gains traction over time in the glass, revealing black cherry, plum, baking spice, earthy flora and mulch aromas. Middleweight in style, with engaging flavors of well-ripened black cherry, boysenberry, and blackberry fruits, as well as game and Charcuterie. Firm, but integrated tannins and a pleasing thread of oak. Score: 92. Reviewed December 3, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2015 Penner-Ash Wine Cellars Zena Crown Vineyard Eola- Amity Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.74, TA 0.49, 500 cases, $65. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Engaging aromas arrive over time in the glass, including blackberry, cassis, toast, warm spices and bacon. Mid weight plus in weight, with a substantial black fruit load balanced by burly tannins. Oak is deftly matched to the fruit that has an earthy underpinning. The wine was considerably better when tasted later in the day from a previously opened bottle and may deserve a higher score with a few years in the cellar. Score: 92. Reviewed October 8, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2015 Penner-Ash Wine Cellars Pas de Nom Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.78, TA 0.47, 350 cases, $125. Sourced from Bella Vida, Shea, Penner-Ash Estate, Elevée, Hyland and Zena Crown vineyards. Select barrels in the cellar. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 40% new, 25% one-year-old, 30% two-yearold and 5% neutral. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Easy to find superlatives for this special wine with no name. Intense aromas of cherry, rose petal and forest floor, broadening over time to deeper tones. Delicious mid weight black raspberry, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors that offer pleasing density and a mouth coating finish. Stunning mid palate presence with a dreamy texture, integrated tannins, and a deft touch of toasty, peppery oak. Considerably better when tasted later in the day from a previously opened bottle and still embraceable two days later. This is a celebratory wine for special occasions. Score: 95. Reviewed October 8, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Soléna Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., pH 3.73, 149 cases, $48. Vines planted in 2004. Harvest Brix 25º. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Reticent, but pleasant aromas of a mix of red cherry and berry with a forest under scent. Juicy on the palate with a mid weight charge of purple berry fruit accented with an earthy mushroom note. A little rustic, yet with admirable fruit quality, well-structured with firm fruit tannins. Score: 92. Reviewed December 13, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Conifer Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.54, TA 0.53, 235 cases, $75. Sourced from blocks Zena West 1A and Zena East 2, 5 and 14. Harvest Brix 24.0º-27.0º. Pommard 4, 114 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 77% new (M to M+ toast). · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of red and black fruits and fertile earth. A little more refined and elegant than the Slope bottling with a more silky mouth feel. Again, beautifully balanced, with a mid weight charge of blueberry and blackberry fruits that are well spiced and complimented by piney oak. The wine finishes with a delightfully aromatic and sweet blackberry finish. Further bottle aging advised. Score: 93. Reviewed November 12, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.51, 286 cases, $75. Sourced From blocks Zena East 1, 12 and 14. Harvest Brix 14.0º-27.0º. Pommard 4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. 40% whole cluster. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 75% new (M to M+ toast). · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Demure, but pleasant aromas of cassis, earthy flora and wood shed. The most harmonious wine of the trio tasted here, with a bit more vibrancy. Nothing is out of place. A discreetly sappy black cherry fruit core is accented with a touch of cardamom spice. Oak is contributory without imposition. The wine has a mouth filling presence, a sleek texture, with integrated tannins, and a potent finish. There is an indefinable special quality to this wine that makes it stand out. Score: 94. Reviewed November 12, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.63, TA 0.53, 735 cases, $100. Sourced from blocks Zena West 6 and Zena East 2, 5 and 6. Harvest Brix 24.6º-25.2º. Pommard 4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 84% new (M to M+ toast). This bottling is the “best of the best” from the vineyard. Winemaker Shane Moore identifies the best blocks in the property that he feels fit the style of Slope, often selecting individual rows. The specific rows and blocks vary from year to year, but the top blocks are always hand selected. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of dark berries and leather. Mid weight flavors of blackberry, cassis and spice have an impressive attack and length with an amazingly long and generous finish. A hint of oak-driven vanilla and tobacco chimes in. Impeccable balance, with blended tannins and a creamy texture. The most concentrated of the three 2014 wines reviewed here. Much better over time in the glass. Score: 93. Reviewed November 12, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Kudos Single Vineyard Series Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $25. A product of NW Wine Co. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, briar and fennel lead to medium bodied flavors of black cherries, black raspberries and a generous cherry-driven finish. Good richness, soft tannins and well-integrated oak. An impressive offering at this modest price. Score: 88. Reviewed September 29, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Horsetail Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., 150 cases, $28. Sourced from Zena Crown, Broadley and Sunny Mountain vineyards. 100% destemmed. Aged in 60% new Francois Frères and Taransaud French oak barrels for 14 months. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, oak, biscuit (yeasty), stem and coffee becoming more pronounced the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Soft in the mouth with vibrant acidity, featuring cherry and raspberry fruit with a hint of tarry, coffee-scented oak in the background. A racy wine for early drinking. Decent. Reviewed February 4, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Kudos Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., $30. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. The nose is oak-driven with the scent of brewed coffee. On the palate the core of dark red and purple fruit is moderately dense and intense and offers an amazing persistence on the huge finish. There is more oak on board than I like, but this should moderate over time in the cellar. Very good. Reviewed February 22, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Kudos Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., $30. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Demure cherry aromas with prominent scents of hay, underbrush and oak. Herb-inflected strawberry and cherry flavors with an earthy oak background, mild tannins, decent acidity and a pleasing cherry finish. Soft, elegant and refined. Lacks the luscious fruit and structure of the 2010 bottling. Good (+). Reviewed February 22, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »