Dec 30, 2022
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Zena Crown Vineyard
| Owner(s) | Jackson Family Wines |
| Web site | www.zenacrown.com |
| Link to this site |
Premier Pacific Vineyards developed Zena Crown Vineyard located just west of Salem, Oregon, in the Eola- Amity Hills AVA in the early 2000s, and it instantly became celebrated among producers such as Alexana Winery, Beaux Frères, Expression Wines, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Soléna and Soter Vineyards who released Zena Crown vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs. In 2013, Jackson Family Wines purchased the 115-acre Zena Crown Vineyard, that includes Zena East, West and Middle, representing part of the company’s initial foray into the Willamette Valley. With the 2013 vintage, Zena Crown Vineyard became a domaine and label, releasing less than 1,000 cases from the most expressive and distinctive blocks of the vineyard.
Zena Crown Vineyard is located on a southwest facing slope of weathered and well-drained volcanic soils at the southern end of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The vineyard is a fairly uniform and harmonious site but the vineyard’s 17 blocks each have their own twists of aspect, depths of soil and grade changes. Elevation increases from 300 feet at the base of the slope to 650 feet at the vineyard’s high point offering a distinctive crown of conifers. The vineyard is planted to a rich diversity of Pinot Noir clones, including Dijon, Pommard, Wädenswil 2A, Mt. Eden, and Archery Summit clone 2 (“828”). It is the diverseness of the vineyard and clones that provides the opportunity to produce distinctive block-driven wines.
Zena Crown Vineyard is surrounded by the vineyards of Bethel Heights, Cristom and St. Innocent wineries, and sits adjacent the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range that funnels cold Pacific winds into the Eola- Amity Hills. The result is small berries with thick skins, structured tannins, buoyant acidity, and slow ripening, with the region consistently the last to be harvested each vintage in the Willamette Valley.
Renowned veteran Oregon winemaker Tony Rynders is the consulting winemaker and is teamed with Shane Moore, who relocated to Oregon leaving a position as associate winemaker for La Crema in California. Moore comments about his approach in Oregon, “You have to adapt and let the environment sculpt the wines, rather than enforcing established dogma or systems upon it. I never thought I would pick on emotion before arriving here. The Willamette Valley is not an environment for safe or clinical winemaking...we listen to the vineyard, and we adapt.”
Winemaking might incorporate some percentage of whole clusters in the fermentation depending on the vintage, the clone, and the intended wine. Aging and malolactic fermentation occur in French oak barrels, 75% to 90% new depending on the wine and year. The wines are never racked until bottling. After a year and a half in oak, the wines are bottled with a Diam closure and are unfined as a rule.
Articles About Zena Crown Vineyard
Reviewed Wines
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Conifer Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.54, TA 0.53, 235
cases, $75. Sourced from blocks Zena West 1A and Zena East 2, 5 and 14. Harvest Brix 24.0º-27.0º.
Pommard 4, 114 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 77% new (M to M+ toast).
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of red and black fruits and fertile earth. A little more refined and
elegant than the Slope bottling with a more silky mouth feel. Again, beautifully balanced, with a mid weight
charge of blueberry and blackberry fruits that are well spiced and complimented by piney oak. The wine
finishes with a delightfully aromatic and sweet blackberry finish. Further bottle aging advised.
Score: 93.
Reviewed November 12, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH
3.68, TA 0.51, 286 cases, $75. Sourced From blocks Zena East 1, 12 and 14. Harvest Brix
14.0º-27.0º. Pommard 4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. 40% whole cluster. Aged 16 months in French
oak barrels, 75% new (M to M+ toast).
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Demure, but pleasant
aromas of cassis, earthy flora and wood shed. The most harmonious wine of the trio tasted here,
with a bit more vibrancy. Nothing is out of place. A discreetly sappy black cherry fruit core is
accented with a touch of cardamom spice. Oak is contributory without imposition. The wine has a
mouth filling presence, a sleek texture, with integrated tannins, and a potent finish. There is an indefinable
special quality to this wine that makes it stand out.
Score: 94.
Reviewed November 12, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.63, TA 0.53, 735
cases, $100. Sourced from blocks Zena West 6 and Zena East 2, 5 and 6. Harvest Brix 24.6º-25.2º. Pommard
4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 84% new (M to M+ toast). This bottling is
the “best of the best” from the vineyard. Winemaker Shane Moore identifies the best blocks in the property that
he feels fit the style of Slope, often selecting individual rows. The specific rows and blocks vary from year to
year, but the top blocks are always hand selected.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant
aromas of dark berries and leather. Mid weight flavors of blackberry, cassis and spice have an impressive attack and length with an amazingly long and generous finish. A hint of oak-driven vanilla and tobacco chimes
in. Impeccable balance, with blended tannins and a creamy texture. The most concentrated of the three 2014
wines reviewed here. Much better over time in the glass.
Score: 93.
Reviewed November 12, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard Conifer Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.52, 240
cases, $75. A blend of Zena East Block 12 and Zena West 1A and 14. These blocks include 114 and “828,” and
Pommard, all seven years old. Harvest Brix 20.5º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 75% new,
medium to medium plus toast.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Seductive perfume of cherry,
strawberry, forest floor and spice lingering in the glass over time. Satiny on the palate, with a mid weight core of
delicious dark red and black fruit flavors supported by elegant tannins. As the name implies, there is a conifer
thread in the background. Very fresh, and everything is in its place, with a highly enjoyable but not
exceptionally intense finish.
Score: 92.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Eola Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.50,
302 cases, $75. A blend of multiple clones from several vineyard blocks. This wine represents the sum of the
land. 40% whole cluster fermentation. Clones 777, Pommard and 667, seven years old. Harvest Brix
22.1º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 71% new, medium to medium plus toast.
·
Moderate cherry
red color in the glass. The whole cluster endows this wine with a gorgeous nose, offering hi-tone aromas of
black cherry, forest floor, spice cabinet and rose petal. The cherry fruit takes on a darker and deeper aroma
over time in the glass. Both red cherry, strawberry and darker fruits such as boysenberry provide nuance as
does a savory note. The texture is particularly tantalizing, as is the lingering finish that seems to last until the
next sip.
Score: 93.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Eola Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.53, 348 cases, $100. Sourced from Zena
East blocks 5 and 6 that stretch from the highest point of the vineyard at
600 feet down to areas of lower elevation. Clone 667, seven years old.
Harvest Brix 22.2º-22.7º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 85%
new, medium to medium plus toast.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color
in the glass. You need to be sitting down when you drink this beauty.
Pleasant aromas of earth-kissed black cherry, crushed berries and
mushrooms. Upon entry, there is an explosion of purple grape and berry
flavor that is eye-opening. The sappy fruit saturates the palate with
goodness, carrying through to a finish that displays uncommon intensity
and length. Even better the following day when tasted from a previously
opened and re-corked bottle when the aromas and flavors became
exhumed in an orgasmic display.
Score: 97.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Conifer Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.54, TA 0.53, 235 cases, $75. Sourced from blocks Zena West 1A and Zena East 2, 5 and 14. Harvest Brix 24.0º-27.0º. Pommard 4, 114 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 77% new (M to M+ toast). · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of red and black fruits and fertile earth. A little more refined and elegant than the Slope bottling with a more silky mouth feel. Again, beautifully balanced, with a mid weight charge of blueberry and blackberry fruits that are well spiced and complimented by piney oak. The wine finishes with a delightfully aromatic and sweet blackberry finish. Further bottle aging advised. Score: 93. Reviewed November 12, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.51, 286 cases, $75. Sourced From blocks Zena East 1, 12 and 14. Harvest Brix 14.0º-27.0º. Pommard 4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. 40% whole cluster. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 75% new (M to M+ toast). · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Demure, but pleasant aromas of cassis, earthy flora and wood shed. The most harmonious wine of the trio tasted here, with a bit more vibrancy. Nothing is out of place. A discreetly sappy black cherry fruit core is accented with a touch of cardamom spice. Oak is contributory without imposition. The wine has a mouth filling presence, a sleek texture, with integrated tannins, and a potent finish. There is an indefinable special quality to this wine that makes it stand out. Score: 94. Reviewed November 12, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.63, TA 0.53, 735 cases, $100. Sourced from blocks Zena West 6 and Zena East 2, 5 and 6. Harvest Brix 24.6º-25.2º. Pommard 4 and 667, 11-year-old vines. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 84% new (M to M+ toast). This bottling is the “best of the best” from the vineyard. Winemaker Shane Moore identifies the best blocks in the property that he feels fit the style of Slope, often selecting individual rows. The specific rows and blocks vary from year to year, but the top blocks are always hand selected. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of dark berries and leather. Mid weight flavors of blackberry, cassis and spice have an impressive attack and length with an amazingly long and generous finish. A hint of oak-driven vanilla and tobacco chimes in. Impeccable balance, with blended tannins and a creamy texture. The most concentrated of the three 2014 wines reviewed here. Much better over time in the glass. Score: 93. Reviewed November 12, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard Conifer Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.52, 240 cases, $75. A blend of Zena East Block 12 and Zena West 1A and 14. These blocks include 114 and “828,” and Pommard, all seven years old. Harvest Brix 20.5º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 75% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Seductive perfume of cherry, strawberry, forest floor and spice lingering in the glass over time. Satiny on the palate, with a mid weight core of delicious dark red and black fruit flavors supported by elegant tannins. As the name implies, there is a conifer thread in the background. Very fresh, and everything is in its place, with a highly enjoyable but not exceptionally intense finish. Score: 92. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Eola Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.50, 302 cases, $75. A blend of multiple clones from several vineyard blocks. This wine represents the sum of the land. 40% whole cluster fermentation. Clones 777, Pommard and 667, seven years old. Harvest Brix 22.1º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 71% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderate cherry red color in the glass. The whole cluster endows this wine with a gorgeous nose, offering hi-tone aromas of black cherry, forest floor, spice cabinet and rose petal. The cherry fruit takes on a darker and deeper aroma over time in the glass. Both red cherry, strawberry and darker fruits such as boysenberry provide nuance as does a savory note. The texture is particularly tantalizing, as is the lingering finish that seems to last until the next sip. Score: 93. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Eola Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.53, 348 cases, $100. Sourced from Zena East blocks 5 and 6 that stretch from the highest point of the vineyard at 600 feet down to areas of lower elevation. Clone 667, seven years old. Harvest Brix 22.2º-22.7º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 85% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. You need to be sitting down when you drink this beauty. Pleasant aromas of earth-kissed black cherry, crushed berries and mushrooms. Upon entry, there is an explosion of purple grape and berry flavor that is eye-opening. The sappy fruit saturates the palate with goodness, carrying through to a finish that displays uncommon intensity and length. Even better the following day when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when the aromas and flavors became exhumed in an orgasmic display. Score: 97. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »