Today we present one of Oregon’s historic wineries. 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. For years Ponzi Vineyards was under their second generation with former President and Director of Sales and Marketing, Anna Maria Ponzi and former eminent Winemaker Luisa Ponzi. In May 2021, Groupe Bollinger acquired Ponzi Vineyards which was the family-owned company’s first property outside France. Max Bruening currently serves as winemaker.
The new wines come from the really delicious and approachable 2023 vintage. I loved the new 2023 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is drinking beautifully right now. The 2023 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) is a stunning bottling that has some beautiful aging potential. Learn more about these outstanding wines at ponzivineyards.com. Here are the great new wines by Ponzi.
2023 Ponzi ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Gris- Coming from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley, the 2023 Pinot Gris offers pear and star jasmine water alongside serious tension and stony minerals on the palate. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91
2023 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Laurelwood District’ Chardonnay delivers a smooth mouthfeel with loads of melon fruits alongside orange rind, juicy starfruit and brioche tones on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92
2023 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Avellana’ comes from this location planted to Chardonnay Dijon Clonal selections 76 and 96. It is dense and unctuous on the tongue with a brisk feeling of verve. Dense honeydew melon and poached pear mingle well with roasted pineapple and freshly cut Key limes on the palate. Rich and decadent, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2036- 94
2023 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Chardonnay- A really delicious new bottling, the 2023 ‘Aurora’ was sourced from a site planted in 1990 set on Laurelwood soils. Once on the nose this takes on honeysuckle and shades of white peach alongside wet stone and juicy kiwi. The palate is plush and refined with terrific volume, tension and texture. Offering great length, with plenty of salty minerals, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 94
2023 Ponzi ‘Tavola’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Tavola’ offers forward and medium-bodied red fruits with salty soil nuances and shades of red licorice. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2023 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir- Great to savor now, the 2023 Ponzi ‘Laurelwood District’ Pinot Noir comes from this location set on northeastern facing slopes on the Chehalem Mountains. Cran-pomegranate and Bing cherry flavors meld well with salted orange zest on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2022 Ponzi ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Needing a little time in the decanter to fully evolve, the outstanding 2022 ‘Reserve’ is a barrel selection Pinot Noir that was sourced from a range of locations spanning the Laurelwood District and Chehalem Mountains AVA. The wine takes on a dense amalgamation of beautiful texture with heady red fruits, Mandarin orange zest, and salty soil nuances. Fresh and rich on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2023 Ponzi ‘Avellana’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2023 ‘Avellana’ Pinot Noir comes from a northwestern facing site that sounds the winery and is a field blend of 20 different clones. This offers terrific volume and mouthfeel once on the tongue. Copious minerals fill the palate with blood orange zest and tobacco leaf alongside shades of cranberry and Asian spices. Enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Ponzi ‘Aurora’ Pinot Noir- One of the great wines of the new Ponzi lineup, the 2023 ‘Aurora’ comes from this location planted all the way back in 1990. Orange peel and forest floor notes fill the nose alongside exotic spices and shades of black plum. The palate is fresh and viscous with a great combination of weight and lip-smacking acidity. Generous red and dark fruits parade alongside with damp earthy accents on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Ponzi ‘Abetina’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Abetina’ was sourced from 1975 Pinot Noir plantings in the Laurelwood District. The nose comes off very pretty with red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside salty soils and suggestions of red raspberry compote. The palate is dense and delicious with bright acidity and serious weight and texture. A delightful bottling to consume now, this has both the weight and tension to cellar well for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Ponzi ‘Chehalem Crossing’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Chehalem Crossing’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this location on a southern facing slope in the Laurelwood District that is LIVE certified sustainable. Right away this delivers alluring aromatics of allspice dusted red fruits alongside Satsuma orange zest, damp earth and suggestions of bergamot. The palate completes a gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits alongside salty and stony nuances. A beautiful bottling to consume now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Ponzi ‘Madrona’ Pinot Noir- Another standout single vineyard, the 2023 ‘Madrona’ was sourced from a cooler, northern-facing location planted back in 1983. This offers terrific weight and freshness on the tongue, as this is brimming with bright red fruits alongside kumquat rind and salty soil nuances. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, watch this beauty evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Ponzi ‘Paloma’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Paloma’ comes from a higher elevation site planted back in 2001. It offers a generous melange of red and dark fruits on the nose, combining with shades of peat moss, crushed wet rock and Shitake mushroom accents. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture. Great now, enjoy over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95