One of the older, outstanding producers in the Willamette Valley, Ponzi Vineyards dates all the way back to the 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, Dick and Nancy bought 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 director of viticulture and winemaker Luisa Ponzi.
I have really enjoyed these wines over several decades. The new wines come from the 2019 vintage which has ended up being a remarkably good vintage considering the challenges of harvest for Pinot Noir. Don’t miss out on the 2019 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay (OB, 91) which is an outstanding value that is already beautifully evolved. The 2019 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) is a knockout in terms of texture and lemon zest notes. Just as good is the 2019 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which show incredible weight and refinement. Learn more about these outstanding wines at ponzivineyards.com. Here are the great new wines by Ponzi.
2019 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay- Straightforward and delicious, the 2019 ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay offers brioche and lemon rind flavors alongside shades of buttercream on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2019 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Avellana’ is sourced from his vineyard which was first planted to Chardonnay Dijon Clonal selections 76 and 96. Ripe honeydew melon, wet stone and suggestions of lemon blossom all fill the nose. The palate is very soft and refined, with a silky texture and wonderful sense of length. Very smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2019 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Aurora’ comes form the Laurelwood District as this site was planted back in 1990. A bright gold color in the glass, this offers lemon curd and orange peel notes alongside salted green melon. The palate is smooth with wonderful lemon zest and brioche notes alongside a lengthy finish. With plenty of tension this beauty is singing now and will live on for another decade or more. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2019 Ponzi ‘Alloro’ Chardonnay- This older site was planted to Chardonnay all the way back in 1999. The 2019 ‘Alloro’ Chardonnay is highly concentrated with intense kumquat, white peach and stony minerals on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with great underlying finesse and a lengthy finish, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2019 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir- Delicious now at the four year mark, the 2019 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir offers juicy pomegranate seed, and strawberry flavors alongside shades of wet stone on the palate. This is really good stuff, with a great combination of weight and tension. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2019 Ponzi ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Outstanding and especially after an hour in the decanter, the 2019 ‘Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that comes from a range of districts within the Willamette Valley. The soft mouthfeel is fantastic as layers of cran-pomegranate, leather, freshly tilled salty soils and suggestions of pipe tobacco all amalgamate on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 93
2019 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Pinot Noir- The seamless and silky 2019 ‘Avellana’ is actually sourced from a field blend of 20 Pinot Noir clones. Soft and supple once on the mouth, this takes on layers of baking spices and blood orange zest that combine with copious minerals, Earl Grey tea leaf, silty soils and suggestions of tart red raspberry on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 94
2019 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Aurora’ comes from Pinot Noir vines set on an eastern facing slope in the Laurelwood District. Volcanic and salty soils combine with ripe red fruits, citrus zest and shades of peat moss on the palate. Finishing long with red fruits and minerals, this is very refined Pinot Noir that will easily cellar for another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 93
2019 Ponzi ‘Lazy River’ Pinot Noir- For years I have enjoyed Pinot Noirs from this site which is set on Mt. Richmond in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The wine shows gorgeous aromas of red rose petals and potpourri alongside freshly tilled sandy soils, black tea and a core of ripe red fruits on the nose. The palate is neatly textured, with great underlying finesse and a silky mouthfeel. Very pure red fruits greet you, as this is already beautifully evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2038- 94
2019 Ponzi ‘Wahle’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Wahle’ comes from this Eola-Amity Hills AVA site which was first planted all the way back in 1999. Tart red fruits combine with a soft mouthfeel on the palate, showing off diatomaceous earth notes and copious minerals on the palate. Shades of citrus zest and bergamot add to the enjoyment, as this beautiful wine is already nicely evolved. Drink 2023-2038- 93