Pleasant aromas of cherry, spice and sous-bois. Soft, even creamy in the mouth, with a discreet concentration of dark berry and black cherry fruits. Seamless, with a deft touch of oak, and enticing blackberry fueled finish. Still shows impeccable balance when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.

Supple and precise, with cherry and pomegranate aromas and well-knit red currant, green tea and spice flavors.

This translucent colored Pinot Noir opens with a bouquet of rose water, red cherry and forest floor. The palate is silky smooth and plush, delivering a good combination of dark and red fruits with good tension. Rich and appealing, enjoy this great wine over the next decade.

Full red. Ripe red fruit, vanilla and cola on the expressive, smoke-accented nose. Juicy, oak-tinged cherry, blackberry and rose pastille flavors show very good depth and breadth, and a repeating cola note emerges with aeration and adds sweetness. Closes smooth and long, displaying impressive power, building tannins and strong tenacity.

Vibrant ruby color. Deep, dark aromas of cherries and rich blackberries, along with violets, clove, espresso, some mushroom, deep but awesome aromatics. Plush, balanced, lovely palate that combines bright acidity, structured tannins, with tangy black cherries and tart plum fruit. A delightful mix of violets, sweet pipe tobacco, sarsaparilla, cherry wood and clove, the flavors are rich but the wine is so lively. I’d love to bury this for five years.

The 2015 Penner-Ash Estate Vineyard pinot noir offers a boatload of potential for the patient. The nose boarders on hedonistic, and offers some killer aromas of iron, black strap molasses and bruised strawberry and blackberry, though it’s obvious that with some bottle age there will be more to come. The body is as full-throttled, and the tannin structure and acid suggest a minimum of 5-6 years is required for it to really come together, though I’d give it a decade to allow the full range of fruit and Earthy flavors to shine: Acai, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, tar, black tea and black pepper all duck and weave through a robust tannin structure and acid that will need to relax for this wine to show its best self. This will be an all-star if one can wait a solid decade. Penner-Ash’s Estate Vineyard has some cool stuff going on. 92 points, value A-.

A fine and silky red with strawberry, lemon and plum character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Lynn Penner-Ash says, "In 2014 we really started to see the ratcheting up of growing degree days. It was both hotter and drier. It was the next really warm vintage after 2003." Pale to medium ruby in color with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir has a lovely open nose of potpourri, pink peppercorn and violet over a core of warm red and black cherries and berries with touches of undergrowth—very spicy and perfumed! Light to medium-bodied, it offers good layers of black and red fruits, exotic spices and earth in the mouth. It’s got a strong frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness to lift all that flavor on the long finish. This is drinking beautifully right now.

A refined and very fine wine with medium, velvety tannins and dried strawberries. Medium body, a polished texture and a flavorful finish. Floral undertones.

In this much-celebrated well-ripened vintage, the Shea designate has a pleasingly soft entry. The lush persistent flavors of black-cherry and blackberry fruit are streaked with vanilla, tobacco and cola highlights. Drink now and over the next four to five years.

Aromas of plums and dried strawberries follow through to a medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a subtle finish. Refined and very pretty. Hints of nuts.

The wine from this vineyard has a lightly smoky scent, more of the characteristic tobacco aromas, and a flavorful fruit mix of mulberry, blueberry and blackberry. It's spicy and chunky and generous, ready for near-term drinking.

This much-admired vineyard brings exotic scents of ripe black-cherry fruit soaked in Asian spices. The wine is compact and powerful, with strong tannins and a light whiff of tar. Drink 2018 through 2026.

Directly adjoining the famed Shea Vineyard, these grapes bring comparable quality. This is young, grapy and aromatic, with primary aromas focused on black-cherry fruit. There are streaks of licorice and cola, leading into a long, lemony, tobacco-laced finish.

Taut, focused and juicy, with mineral-accented black currant and blueberry flavors, finishing on a smoky note. Offers presence and a frame of fine tannins.

Deep red. Vibrant aromas of spicy red and dark berries are complicated by cola and vanilla notes. Silky and appealingly sweet, offering juicy black raspberry and floral pastille flavors with a touch of toasty oak. Finishes impressively long, sappy and smooth, with sneaky tannins building slowly and adding grip.

Vivid ruby-red. Suave, mineral-accented cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of musky herbs and potpourri. Seamless and concentrated on the palate, offering appealingly sweet dark berry and cherry compote flavors lifted and sharpened by a spine of juicy acidity. Rich yet energetic, finishing with excellent clarity and length and building tannins.

Lurid ruby-red. Sexy, oak-spiced aromas of candied dark berries, cola and incense; a mocha nuance gains strength as the wine opens up. Plush blackberry and cherry cola flavors show a spicy edge of white pepper and very good energy for their heft. Seamless, sweet and expansive, in the style of the vintage, displaying a velvety texture and impressive finishing persistence.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Pale to medium ruby-garnet in color, the 2008 Pinot Noir has a lovely nose of chocolate-covered cherries and warm blackberries with a spicy core of dried violets, potpourri, leather and warm earth. Light to medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with dark fruits and spices plus a wonderful streak of dried floral perfume. It offers a strong frame of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness to lift the long, layered finish. This is drinking beautifully right now.

It has been a while since I have tasted this wine, I guess I was in a state of denial since the winery has been sold since the last time I popped a Penner-Ash. Still youthful, even a decade out with dark cherry, blackberry, anise, and a smidge of tar. On the palate, this is fruity, but certainly complex—not as boisterous as the 2008s, but so refined. Delicious. Outstanding.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Pale to medium garnet in color, the 2002 Pinot Noir is scented of stewed black tea leaves and black cherries with notes of leather, wet leaves and baker’s chocolate. Light to medium-bodied, it’s holding up beautifully in the mouth with lovely notes of chocolate and dark fruits plus suggestions of Bergamot, autumn leaves, bitter peel and tree bark. It has a frame of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to carry the long black cherry finish.

The nose is a dusty mint and sap imbued macerated plum and blossom notes earth and bark. The palate is a solid black fig, cocoa and plum with notes of espresso.

Dark garnet color in the glass. A serenade of cassis, white pepper and tobacco aromas lead off. Full-bodied and robust with hefty tannins. A man’s wine with plenty of delectable blackberry, boysenberry and black currant fruit accented with spice. Impressive length in the mouth with a persistent finish. This wine needs a big ribeye steak. I had my neighbors try this one since they like bigger wines and they went ga-ga over it.