Wine of the week: Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014

We at team db want to celebrate the very best bottles from our Global Masters. Every Wednesday, we’ll select a wine that picked up either a Gold or Master from our competition series, and tell you why the judges loved it.

We’re often inclined to pop open a bottle of something pink or fizzy when the weather is a little warmer, but there is more to summer than pale hues.

With that in mind, few reds are more suitable for warmer times than Oregon Pinot, especially this example by Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash from the Willamette – whose eponymous winery was bought by the Jackson family in 2016. This particular Pinot comprises a blend of wines from the estate’s single vineyard expressions, and wowed the tasters for its “vibrant” fruit, “creamy wood” and “spice” on the nose, along with its “pure red berry flavours”, “definition and persistency”, according to Patricia Stefanowicz MW, who was on the panel last year.

Another judge, David Round MW, found the Willamette Pinot lively with wood and spice, and “pently of ripe fruit”. Knowing the wine would benefit from some time in the cellar, the Penner-Ash team waited until last year to enter this 2014 vintage expression into our Global Pinot Noir competition, and just as well, as our panel gave it the highest accolade, a Master.

The wine: Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 (Jackson Family Wines)

The source: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

The grape(s): Pinot Noir

The style: Oaked red

The price: £30-50

The medal: Master – The Global Pinot Noir Masters, 2018