The aroma of honeysuckle, white lavender, and citrus flowers is accompanied by complex flavors such as mandarin orange, white peach, lemongrass, and ginger. In the mouth, the rich flavors of honey, dried pineapple, and shortbread spread, and the lively, clean acidity and saltiness bring freshness to the finish. 2019 was a vintage that reminded me of the old Oregon, and made me feel the reason why Dick and Nancy Ponsie came to this place 50 years ago. After a mild summer with some humidity, September was dry. First, the harvest for sparkling and rosé began, and then the sunny and rainy weather continued, giving the grapes time to grow. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir ripened slowly, harvested with beautiful acidity and freshness, and by late October, they had become great wines in the cellar. The wine is elegant and has a low alcohol content, making it possible to fully express the charm of the Willamette Valley in a cool year. Producers are required to make use of their experience, learning, and achievements to date.
This was a year where we had to go through a lot of hard work, so experience was very important in this vintage. Whole bunch pressing, juice fermented with indigenous yeasts in 14 new French oak barrels. MLF started naturally and is 100% done. For 6 months, the wine was stirred once a week on the lees, and after racking, it was aged for 12 months in old barrels. After a total of 20 months of barrel aging, the wine was transferred to tank, blended, and bottled by gravity flow. Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved their young family to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960s with a passion to make world-class Pinot Noir. After many visits to Burgundy and an exhaustive search for the ideal location, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm southwest of Portland, Oregon. At the time, no one thought Pinot Noir would grow well there, but Dick and Nancy realized that the climate in the northern part of the Willamette Valley was ideal for Pinot Noir. And in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards was founded. Ponzi Vineyards has always strived to improve the quality of Oregon grape growing while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the tradition of excellent winemaking. This philosophy has been passed down by the second generation of the Ponzi family for over 25 years, with President Anna Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Louisa Ponzi. The vineyards are based in Laurelwood District, a new AVA permitted in 2020, located within the Chehalem Mountains AVA. All 130 acres of vineyards are LIVE Certified Sustainable, the world's highest standard for sustainable grape growing and winemaking. Based on the concept that "varietals must match the terroir and climate," Ponzi Vineyards continues to raise the bar in Oregon and is at the forefront of the top winemakers in the United States. In 2021, the company was acquired by the Bollinger family, who also own Champagne House Bollinger. Anna Maria will be in charge of sales and marketing, and Louisa will continue to serve as Director of Cultivation and Winemaking. As Oregon pioneers, the company will continue to produce high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.