The aromas are blackberry compote, plum and chocolate, with raspberry, sage, tobacco and shiitake mushroom. In the mouth, the complex flavors of black licorice, toasted coconut, Amarena cherry and chili powder spread, and firm tannins form the structure. The finish is long with a dark chocolate aroma. This was a great vintage, so much so that winemakers could make good wine without having to do anything. The weather conditions during the growing season were ideal for the grapes, and the grapes brought to the winery after harvest ripened slowly and had a rich flavor. The grapes' growth process proceeded as planned (budbreak in mid-April, flowering in mid-June, fruit set in mid-July). A warm, dry summer had us thinking it would be an early harvest, but thanks to the rains in early September, the vines and fields were moist and the night temperatures were cooler, which allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and be harvested in perfect condition. The white wines were aromatic and had a fresh, concentrated fruitiness. The wines are deep in color, with beautiful tannins and a well-balanced spicy and dark fruit flavor. It is a gorgeous vintage to drink now, but it will evolve even more with age. The wines are divided into small lots and cold soaked for five days to extract the color and aromas of the wine. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, the temperature during fermentation reaches nearly 32°C. Before maceration after fermentation, the fermentation tanks are aerated or punched down twice a day for about 12 to 20 days to give the wine depth and structure. Aged 20 months in French oak, 40% new barrels. Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved their young family to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960s with a passion for making world-class Pinot Noir. After numerous 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 of this place as a good place to grow Pinot Noir, but Dick and Nancy realized that the climate in the northern part of the Willamette Valley was ideal for Pinot Noir. And so, in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards was founded. Ponzi Vineyards has always strived to elevate the quality of Oregon grape growing while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the traditions of fine winemaking. This philosophy has been carried on by the second generation of the Ponzi family for over 25 years, with President Anna Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Louisa Ponzi. The vineyard is 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 viticulture and brewing. Based on the concept that "varietals must match the terroir and climate," Ponzi Vineyards continues to raise the bar in Oregon and remains at the forefront of the top winemakers in the United States. In 2021, the company was acquired by the Bollinger family, owners of Champagne House Bollinger. Anna Maria will be in charge of sales and marketing, and Louisa will continue to serve as director of cultivation and brewing, and will continue to produce high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as Oregon pioneers.