It was the late 1960s when Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved their young family to the Willamette Valley on a mission to make top notch Pinot Noir. After many research trips to Burgundy and an extensive search for the ideal location, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm just southwest of Portland, Oregon. At the time there were few people growing Pinot Noir, but Dick and Nancy saw the potential for the varietal in the Northern Willamette Valley. Truly one of the historic producers of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Ponzi Vineyards is now under their second generation with President and Director of Sales and Marketing, Anna Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Luisa Ponzi.
I have long enjoyed these wines since I began tasting in the Willamette Valley in 2002. Ponzi produces two gorgeous Chardonnay bottling that are limited production, their ‘Aurora’ and ‘Avellana’ and I scored both 2018 editions of this wine 92 Points. The 2018 ‘Aurora’ was more dense and rich, while the ‘Avellana’ has even more verve and finesse. Both are outstanding.
I adored the 2018 Ponzi ‘Abetina 2’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a decadent treat to savor now and has gorgeous layers off red and dark fruits with great viscosity and tension. This beauty will cellar well for decades to come. Learn more about these outstanding wines at ponzivineyards.com. Here are the great new wines by Ponzi.
2018 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Aurora’ Chardonnay underwent 100% malolactic fermentation and saw 20 months in barrel before bottling. Banana, nutmeg and Challah bread all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great tension and a wonderfully oily texture. Viscous and beautiful to enjoy now, this outstanding new effort will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2018 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Chardonnay- The ‘Avellana’ is sourced from fifteen year old vines that are planted to Dijon clone 76. Like the ‘Aurora’ bottling, this saw 20 months in oak and plenty of battonage prior to bottling. White peach, sourdough bread and baking spices with nutty undertones all fill the nose. The palate is more high-toned than the ‘Aurora’ but every bit as good. Fresh and vibrant, with great acidity and lovely mushroom and damp earth tones, this outstanding new bottling will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2018 Ponzi ‘Tavola’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Tavola’ shows juicy red fruits with a good sense of mouthfeel and finesse. Enjoy in the short-term. Drink 2021-2025- 89
2017 Ponzi ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from a collection in vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, the ‘Reserve’ shows lovely peat moss with wild blackberry and huckleberry tones on the nose. The palate comes off silky smooth with good finesse and depth. Rich red and dark fruits parade with orange zest, baking spices and wild mushroom tones on the palate. Enjoyable in its youth, be sure to give this an hour or two of air if savoring right now. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2018 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Avellana’ is sourced from vines planted in 2006, set on Laurelwood soils. Tilled earth and cranberry tones dominate the nose with orange zest and cinnamon tones. The palate is fresh with a great sense of viscosity. Ripe red fruits collide with minerals, persimmon and forest floor undertones. The long finish lingers as the sense of balance here is seriously good. Gorgeous in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade or more. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2018 Ponzi ‘Abetina 2’ Pinot Noir- The finest wine out of this new Ponzi lineup that I tried, the 2018 ‘Abetina 2’, is sourced from 40 year old Pinot Noir vines and twenty separate clones of Pinot Noir. Aged in 50% new French oak for 20 months, this shows off pomegranate seed and forest floor tones alongside shades of wild blackberry and raspberry coulis with dried herbs that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky and elegant with great freshness, viscosity and marvelous tension. Layers of very pretty red and dark fruits collide with minerals, smoke, tobacco leaf and peat moss undertones. The gratifying length adds to the enjoyment. Sinfully good in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen years — but why wait? Drink 2021-2035- 94