PONZI VINEYARDS

HISTORY
In the late 1960s Dick and Nancy Ponzi uprooted their family to pursue a dream of producing world class Pinot Noir. After research trips to Burgundy and an extensive search, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm just southwest of Portland, Oregon. The winery was founded in 1970, and the first 4 barrels of wine produced in 1974. Ponzi has since become internationally acclaimed for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Over the last 25 years President Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Luisa Ponzi have brought the estate to even greater heights, setting the standard for Oregon and remaining at the forefront of the nation’s top wine producers.

Ponzi Vineyards remains a reference point for American Pinot Noir with winemaker Luisa Ponzi at the top of her game.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

LOCATION
The Ponzi family owns and farms 4 sites that comprise 130 acres of vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains of the North Willamette Valley. This area is defined by Laurelwood soil, superb for growing Pinot noir. All vineyards are certified by LIVE, an internationally accredited standard for environmentally responsible winegrowing. In 2008, the Ponzis built a state of the art, gravity flow facility, and opened a modern tasting room in 2013.

In the 1990s, when Oregon finally found its footing, the state’s best Pinot Noirs took their cues from the Ponzi style.” -Wine Spectator

STYLE
Vineyards are notably planted on Laurelwood soils, which along with Ponzi’s laborious farming and small lot fermentations, produce Pinot Noir of intense aromatics, beautifully defined and structured fruit, and terrific complexity of fruit, earth and spice; generous and full of pleasure, yet refined and elegant. One of Oregon’s pioneers in the production of whites, Ponzi has a 30 year history of making irresistibly floral and vibrant Pinot Gris and, in the last two decades, leading the next great story: deeply compelling Chardonnay that stands alongside Pinot Noir as one of Oregon’s signature achievements.

PONZI WINES

Pinot Noir Reserve

• Stunning wine showing the height of Oregon Pinot and specifically the depth of the Chehalem Mountain AVA
• Dominated by fruit from Laurelwood soils in Chehalem Mountains AVA, from very top performing vineyards
• Hand sorted and destemmed, fermented in small lots, punched down twice a day, post-fermentation maceration
• Aged in French oak (50% new) for 20 months, racked and bottled by gravity without filtration or fining
• Explosive nose of sassafras, coffee, sweet plum and spice box; full and seamless palate with baker’s chocolate, blueberry, lavender and tea; a long and balanced finish
• 2013: 93 WS, 94 WE / 2012: 92 WE, 92 VM, 91 WS … back to 1987: 91 Points WS

Pinot Noir

• The prototype of Willamette Valley Pinot: from outstanding sites, gorgeous fruit and complexity
• A careful blend of estate grown Pinot noir and fruit from Ponzi’s growers throughout the Willamette Valley
• Hand sorted and destemmed, fermented in small lots, punched down twice a day, lightly pressed
• Aged in French oak (35% new) for 11 months, racked and bottled by gravity without filtration or fining
• Compelling and intriguing aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, spiced rhubarb, cigar box; structured palate with a sweet middle of spiced cherries, black pepper, graphite and cranberry; long and elegant ripe red fruit
• 2013: 92 WS, 92 WE / 2012: 92 WS, 91 WE … back to 1985: 90 Points WS

Tavola Pinot Noir

• Delicious early release and entry to Ponzi’s Pinot Noir designed for the table and therefore found chiefly on the lists of discerning restaurants
• Grown at Aurora, Avellana and Madrona with fruit from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola Hills
• Sorted and destemmed to 1.5-3 ton fermenters, aerated/punched down twice a day, light press
• Aged in French oak (20% new) for 11 months, racked and bottled by gravity without fining or filtration Intense perfume of bay leaf, star anise, lavender, pomegranate and dried currant; sweet entry to vibrant palate of spiced cherry pie, lightly roasted coffee beans; soft tannins finish with a touch of orange zest
• 2014: 92 W&S, 91 WE / 2012: 91 WS (Top 100). 90 WE, 90 W&S … back to 2002: 91 WS

Pinot Gris 

• U.S. pioneer and standard bearer.
• One of the world’s top producers: all at once fresh, deep, complex, attractive
• Grown in Aurora, Avellana and Estate along with fruit from 10 vineyards farmed by grower partners
• Cool fermentation in stainless steel, malolactic fermentation blocked to retain bright character
• Inviting nose with floral notes along with aromatics of tangerine, lychee, sweet mint and hints of vanilla and lemon cream; vibrant acidity wrapped around hints of quince, kumquat, starfruit and orange zest
• 2014: 90 WE / 2013: 91 WE … back to 2002: 90 W&S

Chardonnay Reserve

• Over 25 years of farming and winemaking work to develop Oregon Chardonnay’s place in the world
• Blend of fruit from Avellana and Aurora in Chehalem, Sunset View in Eola-Amity, and Thistle in Dundee Hills
• Whole cluster pressed into French oak (10% new), fermented with partial wild yeast, 100% ML (spontaneous)
• After 20 months in barrel moved by compressed gas to tank for blending, then bottled by gravity
• Expressive nose of persimmon, vanilla bean, caramelized banana, nectarine and rainwater; lightly textured mouth full of cinnamon, cardamom, lime zest and long meringue flavors; long finish with burst of bright fruit
• 2013: 92 WE , 91 WS / 2012: 92 WS, 91 WE … back to 2000: 90 WS