One of my personal pet peeves with Pinot Noir is that the wines are often pretty but not terribly exciting. Well, Ponzi Vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley has shown me, once again, that Pinot Noir can be lovely AND sexy. Celebrating their 45th anniversary, Ponzi Vineyards is family owned & managed and a leading American producer of Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Luisa Ponzi represents the second generation of the Ponzi family. She celebrated her 20th vintage in 2013.
To get started, I recommend swirling a glass of 2014 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir ($25). Silky and juicy with luscious flavors of plum and black cherry, the wine also has vibrant hints of pepper and mint that make it quite expressive. Tavola means table in Italian and this is a food-friendly wine that will pair nicely with everything from roast chicken to steak and pasta. If you want to take your Pinot tasting to the next level, 2013 Ponzi Pinot Noir ($40) is a balanced explosion of flavor - dark chocolate, cherry, pepper, and cranberry. Silky and light-bodied with a lingering finish, this elegant wine is Ponzi's flagship Pinot Noir. Ponzi Pinot Noir is the antithesis of boring!
If you're planning a visit to Oregon, Ponzi welcomes visitors at their winery, tasting room, and restaurant.
images courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards
