Part of the Jackson Family Wines, this Inspired winery was founded in 1998 by wife and husband, Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash. They specialize in small lot produced wines from Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, and old vine Riesling in the Northern Willamette Valley. Some of the AVAs included esteemed vineyards such as Shea Vineyards Yamhill- Carlton, Bramble Hill Vineyard Ribbon Ridge, Zena Crown Vineyard Eola-Amity.
Lynn is highly honored with claims as to the first female winemaker in Oregon for her skillful blending. I will also add that the winery is proudly dominated by women working there. She graduated from groundbreaking California davis in Enology. From there, her pedigree includes Stag’s Leap, Domaine Chandon, Château St. Jean.
In 1988 the couple was energized by Oregon’s advancing wine industry. This, in turn, drove the couple to move there to expose Lynn’s knowledge and passion for winemaking. It was at this time she began making wine for Rex Hill Vineyards. It’s the well-known label behind A to Z. In 2005 the duo sequentially constructed a viable gravity-flow estate winery in Yamhill-Carlton AVA, specifically, the Newberg area.
What is Gravity Flow?
GRAVITY FLOW – simply defined are wineries that are pump free. It avoids shaking or bruising grapes while avoiding oxidation. This results in wines of pure fruit along with transparent aromas and flavors.
My tasting notes
100% Viognier, 0% oak, native yeast, long cold soaks for bold fruit. The wine displays a medium gold, With high intense orchard fruit of tart granny smith apples, ripe anjou pear, heightened by citrus fruit of key lime and orange oil, floral aromas of jasmine, and white lilies, the underscore with notes of dusty ash. On the palate, dry, medium acid, medium + alcohol, full-body, chucky texture, with high intense fruit of juicy granny apples golden delicious, pears, and bruised peach. Citrus bright the plate with zest orange and ripe pink grapefruit. Floral aroma perfume in the mid-palate with honeysuckle and white flowers, further taming the fruit and complementing the acid with graphite and crushed rocks, it finishes with medium+ length.
My Conclusion
This is a very good wine. It is beautifully concentrated with a bounty of tree fruit, ripe and tart. The acid lifts the full palate and finishes with mineral sophistication. This wine is excellently crafted to enjoy now. Cellaring would not benefit this abundant style.
I applaud a woman in a male-dominated industry who together with her spouse created a respected wine brand. This wine is available at Hi-Time Wine Cellars.
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