Penner-Ash Pas de Nom Pinot noir 09

2009 Wine Spectator - 94 points - Taut, racy and sleek, with vibrant acidity to support the black cherry, black tea and mineral flavors, finishing with a tarry edge and generous tannins. This has an aristocratic feel. Best from 2013 through 2019. From Oregon. - H.S.

2009 Wine Advocate - 93 points - The tete-de-cuvee is the 2009 Pinot Noir Pas de Nom, a blend of the best barrels in the cellar. The most complex wine in the portfolio, it offers up a captivating nose of exotic spices, lilacs, sandalwood, and black fruits. Velvety on the palate with a sense of elegance, it is a concentrated, lengthy, posh effort that will reward 2-3 years of cellaring.

Veteran vigneron Lynn Penner-Ash had just celebrated a milestone birthday prior to my visit and, like her wines, she appeared to be evolving gracefully. The current collection includes two white wines.

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

2008 Wine Spectator - 95 points - Light on its feet, with gorgeous currant, plum and wet stone aromas and flavors that remain expressive and intense without any apparent weight. Tannins are beautifully integrated, while the finish goes on and on. Drink now through 2020. From Oregon." - H.S.

2008 Wine Advocate - 93 points - The 2008 Pinot Noir Pas de Nom is a blend of the best barrels in the cellar. In 2008 they were from Bella Vida, Zena’s Crown, Shea, and Dussin vineyards. Dark ruby in color with an already complex and expressive bouquet of pain grille, Asian spices, underbrush, floral notes, black cherry, and black raspberry, on the palate it is dense, packed, and rich, bordering on opulent. Powerful (at the expense of a bit of elegance), exceptionally long, and seamless, it has the structure, balance, and precision for a long life. It is a candidate to see its 20th birthday in fine form. - Jay Miller

The winery - Seductive nose of black currant, plum and blackberry. The palate is broad and expressive. Silky tannins compliment notes of dark chocolate, black cherry and vanilla bean. Finishes with sweet oak and violets.

The 2008 Pas de Nom is a 10 barrel selection from four of our favorite vineyards located in three different AVA’s in the northern Willamette Valley.

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

Aromas of clove, violets and black currant. The palate is seductive and smooth-textured, with a broad, full-bodied range of ripe, rich yet elegant, black cherry and raspberry, picking up a touch of fresh earth and mineral. A long and lingering finish of fine-grained tannins and vanilla.

It’s a winemakers dream to choose just a few of their favorite barrels each vintage for a special bottling. Our 2007 Pas de Nom is a premium Pinot noir blended from our favorite 5 barrels in the cellar. The vineyard sources for our inaugural 2007 Pas De Nom include our estate Dussin Vineyard (Yamhill-Carlton AVA), Shea Vineyard (Yamhill-Carlton AVA), Bella Vida Vineyard (Dundee Hills AVA) and Zena Crown Vineyard (Eola – Amity Hills AVA). Only sold through the winery (but available at Avalon Wine.) Extremely limited quantities. - the winery

2007 Wine Spectator - 92 points - Ripe, focused and light on its feet, showing finesse in the way this carries a rush of cherry, mint and wet earth flavors through the long, expressive finish with only minimal tannins along the way. Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2013. 150 cases made." - H.S.