Comprising (as it did last year) selected barrels from Shea, Dussin, and Zena Crown vineyards the Penner Ash 2011 Pinot Noir Pas de Nom once again delivers an extra measure of elegance vis-a-vis its stable mates. Concentrated and brightly fruited, it combines seamless polish and lift. Black tea, rose water, and fennel pollen alluringly accenting its diverse dark berries. A savory hint of wild mushrooms in beef stock and a vegetal-nutty ping of lentil sprout add to the saliva-inducement and invigoration of a sustained, layered finish. Here is an instance where the use of some whole clusters seems to have drawn-out or enhanced latent floral and high-toned herbal aspects. 92 WA.
