The aroma of fresh red fruits such as strawberries and cranberries, rose petals and peppercorns spreads from the glass. The flavors of cola, blackberries, licorice and vanilla also come through.
The wine has a well-balanced balance of soft tannins, clean acidity, and a hint of rhubarb jam, expressing an elegant and pure Oregon Pinot Noir. 2021 has brought a sigh of relief and many smiles for the grape growers and winemakers. After a smoky 2020 due to wildfires, 2021 brought a heat dome phenomenon (heat wave) that made us wonder, "What's next?", but fortunately the heat wave only caused minor damage and actually prevented the development of powdery mildew that could have occurred. The rain in early September rejuvenated the vines, and by mid-September we had very beautiful, ripe, and flavorful grapes. The nights were very cool, reminiscent of 2012, and the wine has a balanced acidity and rich aroma. The grape yield was slightly smaller than expected, but the wine was dark in color and had a sense of concentration. The advantage of this vintage is that people are happy to harvest and are once again energized to make good wine. This is definitely expressed in the taste of the wine. The grapes are from our own LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) certified vineyards, Aurora and Avellana, and from the sustainably farmed Chehalam Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton, and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs. All grapes are selected, destemmed, and fermented. A long cold soak extracts more of the wine's color and aromas. Fermentation is done with indigenous yeasts, and the temperature during fermentation reaches nearly 32°C. The fermentation tank is punched down twice a day and gently pressed, resulting in a soft, fruit-forward style. Aged for 11 months in French oak (20% new). After that, the barrels for Tavola are selected, racked, and aged. Bottled by Gravity Flow. Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved their young family to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960s with a passion to create world-class Pinot Noir. After numerous visits to Burgundy and an extensive 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 northern Willamette Valley's climate 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, under the leadership of President Anna Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Louisa Ponzi. The vineyards are located within the Chehalem Mountains AVA, a new AVA permitted in 2020, Laurelwood AVA. The company is based in the Laurelwood District. 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 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 winemaking, and will continue to produce high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as Oregon's pioneers.