Lenné Estate produces Pinot Noir and, as of the 2016 vintage, Chardonnay, solely from their own vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of Willamette Valley. They release several Pinot Noir each year, some highlighting specific clones, others showing the personality of particular sections of the vineyard.

The site lies in the center of the AVA, just north of Hwy 240 and just east of Hwy 47. It slopes gently, with altitudes varying between 300 and 600 feet. According to proprietor/winemaker Steve Lutz, the poor, well-drained, Peavine series soil is unusual for Willamette Valley vineyards. In fact, it’s particular to Lenné’s locale and is mostly wooded and undeveloped. It’s a silty clay-loam, which formed as seabed some 16 million years ago, and includes elements of sandstone, basalt, siltstone, tuff, and shale. Lutz says it leads to very small, thick-skinned grapes.

From a flavor perspective, he says the soil results in more black fruit and a distinct mocha characteristic in the Pinot. The latter was certainly evident during my tasting and is very unusual for Pinot Noir. Lutz recommends drinking the wines at 5-10 years from vintage. His personal preference is around 10 years, “when the fruit is still intact and there’s a lot of complexity.”

He began planting the vineyard to Pinot Noir in 2001. The clones were Pommard, 114, 115, 777, and 667. The vines are dry-farmed.

2017 Lenné Estate Chardonnay Yamhill-Carlton $45

2017 was the second Chardonnay vintage for Lenné Estate, having grafted 12 rows of Pinot Noir to Dijon 76 in 2014. Lutz told me, “I’m looking for a textural Chardonnay, but don’t want it over-oaked. He likes to get the flavors “into the pear spectrum.” He uses only puncheons and neutral oak barrels.

The nose shows just-ripe yellow apple, whole pears, delicate baking spice, and buttered toast. The medium-bodied palate has good intensity and engaging texture, is persistently juicy, and carries itself lightly. Flavors include pear, lemon curd, spice, yeast, and a touch of wood. 153 cases.

Note: I was focused on listening to the winemaker and didn’t record a point score.

Vertical of Lenné Estate Pinot Noir

This cuvée is always made from barrels representing premier sections from around the vineyard. The are mostly from 115 and Pommard clones and spend 11 months in barrel.

2013 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir 93 13.0% 750ml $45

Steve Lutz: “A great year, ending with a huge weekend of rain. We harvested before the storm”

Aromas and flavors of sandalwood, spice, dried orange peel, fresh berries, and poached cherry. Medium-minus body in the mouth and elegantly structured with fine- and very fine-grained texture and generous acidity. A lithe, pretty wine with tangy flavors. 295 cases.

2014 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir 90+ 14.0% 750ml $45

SL: “A warm vintage with huge fruit set that slowed ripening. Really well-balanced.”

Aromas and flavors of dark berries, strawberry, spice, and lilac. The nose was quieter than with the other three wines in this flight. The palate is tangy, but shows a lot of mocha on the attack. Fuller body and more structured than the 2013, but still juicy. 250 cases.

2015 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir 91 14.0% 750ml $40

SL: “A warm, tannic vintage with wines that started out clunky but are integrating now.”

Aromas and flavors of grenadine, orange, spices, pretty wood, and a touch of mocha. Fuller than the 2014, with a healthy amount of fine, grippy tannins. 376 cases.

2016 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir 92+ 13.8% 750ml $40

Early bud break with a warm dry Spring, normal Summer, but a very cool August that allowed for typical, slow maturation, even though it was a month early.

Flavors and aromas of mocha and malted milk ball at the fore, with dark berries, dark red cherry, spice, bay leaf and, with air, sandalwood. Medium-bodied, very juicy, and long with fine, moderate tannins that are grippy in the front of the mouth. 425 cases.

Clonal Releases

2016 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir Eleanor’s 114 92+ 14.0% $55

Medium-plus intensity on nose and palate with notes of mocha, peppery spice and pretty, raspberry fruit. Medium weight on the palate and moderately juicy with balancing structure from fine tannins that are a little grippy on the tongue.

2016 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir Jill’s 115 93 13.8% 750ml $55

Mocha and dark flowers with cherry in the background. The fruit is lightly viscous on the palate and balances the alcohol nicely. The fine, chewy tannins are a touch lighter than in the Eleanor’s. 75 cases.

2016 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir Karen’s Pommard 92 14.0% 750ml $55

Aromas and flavors of red and black fruit, spice, mocha, and chocolate. Relatively round and heavily textured on the palate with ripe fruit and plenty of chocolate. 100 cases.

2016 Lenné Estate Pinot Noir cinq élus 93 13.7% 750ml $73

cinq élus is a blend made from the best barrel of each of the five clonal blocks. The 2016 is relatively richly fruited and complex. Look for mocha, spice, pot pourri, red cherry and raspberry. Body is a generous medium with matching structure from fine, chalky-grippy tannins. 125 cases.

Copyright Fred Swan 2018. Photos courtesy of Lenné Estate. All rights reserved.