2017 PINOT NOIR
LOT 39
Path of Totality
VINEYARD | zena crown
APPELLATION | EOLA-AMITY HILLS
WINEMAKER | shane moore
HARVEST DATE | SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
BOTTLING | march 18, 2019
ALCOHOL | 14.1%
PRODUCTION | 60 BOTTLES / 5 cases
The Wine
On August 21, 2017, the solar eclipse path of totality passed over the Zena Crown Vineyard while the winery and vineyard teams gazed upon the spectacle in slack-jawed awe. My personal biodynamic consultant declared it an omen of a great vintage to come, and so it passed.
Beautifully ripe red fruit blazes like the sun on the path toward the nose. This is intermingled with briary blackberry and exotic aromas such as sandalwood and tamarind creating a sense of aromatic totality. Hedonistic darkness on the palate up front is framed by a solid corona of tannin and acidity. This is followed by resolutions of dynamic fruit offerings on the midpalate, leading toward a finish returning to lightness—all taking place to the soundtrack of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The Winery
The Zena Crown Vineyard comprises 115 acres of vines and 48 vineyard blocks. The blocks each have their own twists of aspect, depths and colors of soil, and grade changes. From these blocks we produce Pinot noir wines for each season, to capture the vineyard’s changing moods and expressions just as if it were a living, breathing thing.