One of the historic sites fo Pinot Noir in Oregon, it was back in 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. There were only a few other farmers growing Pinot Noir back then 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.
For years I have been impressed with the consistency of these wines and I was very impressed with last years efforts. The new wines that I tasted come from the 2018 vintage and were beautiful across the board. Their 2018 wines have structure, body and really excellent flavor density.
I love the 2018 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is dense and fresh with a silky texture. Unbelievably good even right now, the 2018 Ponzi ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) is a barrel select wine that brilliantly captures the warmth of the vintage. This is a big and brash style of Pinot Noir that is also brilliantly nervy, with really good flavor range. This killer Pinot Noir will be sure to 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 Vineyards ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay- Seriously good, displaying plenty of ripeness from this warm vintage, the 2018 Ponzi Vineyards ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay revels in its buttered brioche and Japanese pear tones that combine with bright minerals and lemon meringue undertones. Full-bodied and delicious, consume this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2018 Ponzi Vineyards ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir- A beautiful new wine by winemaker Luisa Ponzi, the 2018 Ponzi Vineyards ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir is sourced from higher elevation sites, set on both windblown and Jory soils. The nose is beautifully perfumed with red rose petals and red cherry preserves alongside a dusting of freshly tilled soils. The palate shows really nice texture and finesse, finishing long with bright red fruits, citrus embers and toasty oak. Drink 2022-2032- 92
2018 Ponzi Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Definitely not for the weary, the 2018 Ponzi Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a decadent, warm vintage effort that is built to age. Once on the nose this takes on layers of loganberry preserves alongside Yakima cherry, tobacco leaf and shades of tar with baking spices. You have to admire the flavor range with its red and dark fruit profile, alongside citrus blossom, salty, loamy soils and a faint smoldering stoney accent. This comes off very and unveils a luxurious texture, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and excellent length, adding to the crescendo. Glorious to consume in its full-throttle youth, the 2018 ‘Reserve’ is sure to satisfy over the next twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 95