One of the beautiful spots in the Willamette Valley, Zena Crown is located on a southwest-facing slope, set on volcanic soils, and also parallel to some of the great, historic vineyards of the Eola-Amity Hills. In 2013 Jackson Family Wines purchased this beautiful site and has since served as single vineyard designate wines by producers like Beaux Frères, Soter, and Penner-Ash.
At the helm is Shane Moore who has been in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Moore has a degree from Washington State University with a BS in Horticulture and a focus on Enology and Viticulture in 2008, Shane served as a cellar rat throughout his college years, and then worked for wineries around the globe—in Canada, in Western Australia, and in Israel’s Golan Heights. Shane met his future wife, Claire, while working harvest in Margaret River in 2010, and the pair soon returned to her native Sonoma County in California. Shane joined Jackson Family Wines team in 2011 as an enologist specializing in Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, and in 2013 he returned to the Pacific Northwest to assume the role of Winemaker for Zena Crown.
I love the new 2018 wines by Zena Crown which were spectacular across the board. Don’t miss out on the 2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘The Sum’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is vibrant and beautifully textured, with serious aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.zenacrown.com Here is my review of the new Zena Crown wines.
2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘Conifer’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Conifer’ is sourced from Zena West 1A, 6 and Zena East 12 blocks, as vines are set on a wide range of soils from Jory to Helmick. This wine saw 15 months in French oak before bottling. This full-bodied, warm vintage effort displays plenty of finesse as bright red fruits collide with pine needles, citrus embers and salty undertones. This beauty has at least another ten years in front of it. Drink 2022-2034- 93
2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘Slope’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Slope’ is a gorgeous bottling that comes from Zena East Block 5 and Zena West Block 6. The wine yields serious tension and weight once on the palate with layers of orange rind alongside guava, pine needles and stony undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, this rich and mineral-driven wine has a long journey ahead of it. Drink 2022-2035- 93
2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘The Sum’ Pinot Noir- Utilizing 13 year old clone 777 and 4 Pinot Noir clones, the 2018 ‘The Sum’ is beautifully weighted, high-acid Pinot Noir that is built for aging. Sour cherry, cranberry and orange rind flavors combine with forest floor and wild mushroom undertones on the palate, with soft tannins holding everything in place. Gorgeous to consume now, this has another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2022-2035- 93