One of Oregon’s storied properties, Penner-Ash was founded back in 1998 by Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash. Their first vintage was 2005 and they received remarkable success with vintages to follow. Located in the Northern Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton sub-AVA the pair built their LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) Certified sustainable gravity-flow winery surrounded by a 15-acre Estate Vineyard. The winery was sold to Jackson Family in 2016 and today founding Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash works hand in hand with Kate Ayres.
Quality has been really consistent since the sale. I have been really impressed with the last five or so vintage releases. I adored the 2018 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB,93) which shows beautiful depth and texture from this warm vintage. This is a great Chardonnay to cellar and watch evolve. Learn more about this great story at https://www.pennerash.com and here are my reviews of the new Penner-Ash wines.
2018 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley Chardonnay- The 2018 Penner-Ash Chardonnay shows ripe honeysuckle tones on the nose with baking spice laced sourdough bread and bright melon tones. The palate is fresh and viscous with a great beam of tension as saline dusted orchard and citrus fruits greet you alongside undercurrents of wild mushroom. Really good to enjoy right now, this has another eight plus years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2019 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Done in a fresher style, the 2019 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir shows off a polished texture with layers of marionberry and black cherry that mingle with tilled soils and shades of peat moss on the palate. Enjoy this medium-bodied effort over the next seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 91
2019 Penner’Ash ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir that is already nicely evolved. Ripe teaberry and red raspberry flavors mingle with minerals and flinty undertones with shades of tangerine rind on the palate. Drink 2021-2028-91