2016 Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
93 POINTS - Anthony Dias Blue, August 2018
92 POINTS Wine & Spirits Magazine, August 2018
91 POINTS - Wine Enthusiast Magazine, October 2018
91 POINTS - James Suckling, November 2018
Tasting Notes
Fermented with 14% whole cluster (including stems) the Zenith has a deep red color, opening with jammy notes of blueberry and complex bergamot tea aromas. The palate entry is smooth, with plums, blackberry jam, spice, dark chocolate, and violets.
About Zenith Vineyard
Founded in 2002 by Tim and Kari Ramey, Zenith Vineyard is an 83-acre vineyard located in the heart of the Eola-Amity Hills, adjacent to the historic St. Innocent Vineyard. It is a beautiful site expressing the area's unique terrior, featuring silty sedimentary soils laid down by the Missoula floods over 14,000 years ago. The Ramey’s commitment to sustainable practices and respect for the land helps to produce outstanding grapes each and every year.
The 2016 Vintage
2016 will go down as a fantastic year for Oregon's Willamette Valley. The growing season started four weeks earlier than 2015’s early bud break. Temperatures were up and down all season, with a short heat spell early on and a significant cool period in August. This provided a lengthened growing season, resulting in small berries with highly concentrated flavors. With extra time comes more a more focused and relaxed atmosphere in the winery. Add to that a total lack of bird and disease damage and you have some very happy winemakers.