I had a bottle of Penner-Ash Pinot Noir as a gift about 2 years ago, and it blew my mind. The bottle stuck with me in my mind, and when I was researching wineries in the Willamette Valley, I knew this had to be on the list. I reserved ahead of time.
Penner-Ash is situated in Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The tasting room is absolutely stunning.
We were greeted by the tasting room manager, Kati. In addition to her warmth and friendliness, she was patient and offered a wealth of knowledge to the Pinot amateur.
We were offered covered outdoor seating which offered a breathtaking, expansive view of the Chehalem Valley and Cascade Mountains.
Our tasting included:
2021 Rose of Pinot Noir - fresh and perfect for the summer
2018 Bella Vida Vineyard Pinot Noir - red candy, the fruitiest, most vibrant of the bunch
2018 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir - less fruity, more dry, earthy and musty with smooth tannins
2018 Zena Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir - chocolate / cocoa dust, black tea, increased acid and tannins
2018 Pas de Nom Pinot Noir
We were grateful for Kati's generosity, as we were offered additional tastings including the 2019 Pas de Nom Pinot Noir and 2018 Bramble Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir.
In fact, we loved the 2018 Bramble Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, which was not on the original flight. We enjoyed the more fruit-forwardness and punch this offered, with structured tannins.
Penner-Ash's wines were all amazing, and scored an A+ for us. This is exceptional Pinot for sure, and we were delighted to drink any of our flight wines any day! The tasting room and patio along with the outdoor view is extraordinary, an A+. Our service was top notch, and therefore A+.
We highly recommend Penner-Ash as a must visit while in the Willamette Valley!
