Ponzi Vineyards
2010 Pinot Noir, Tavola, Willamette Valley
Fact Sheet
Vineyard Profile
This Pinot Noir is a blend from Ponzi’s Avellana, Abetina, Linda Vista, Madrona, Aurora, Buteo and Estate vineyards, as well as fruit from sustainably grown vineyards located in the Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola Hills AVAs.
Vintage Report
Early-April budbreak was followed by a month of cool weather stalling growth throughout a wet spring and the wettest June on record, resulting in small yields. The summer continued to be the coolest in 17 years and as we approached the fall, the anxiety was palpable in the Willamette Valley. As the birds arrived in Hitchcock numbers, we were well into the late part of October when Mother Nature blessed us with two straight weeks of dry, clear, warm days nudging the fruit into perfect ripeness.
Vinification
All fruit is sorted then destemmed to 1.5- to 3-ton fermentors. An extended cold soak increases color and aroma. Fermented by native yeasts, the peak temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The fermentors were aerated or punched down twice a day, then lightly pressed just before dryness to ensure a softer, fruit-forward style. The wine was aged in French oak for 11 months (25 percent new). A barrel selection was made for Tavola, then racked and bottled by gravity without fining or filtration. This wine has been bottle aged for five months before release.
Tasting Notes
This fragrant nose of black cherry, brown sugar brûlée and vanilla leads to a mouth of fresh red plums. The sweet middle leads to a silky, seamless finish that lingers with spice. Luisa Ponzi, Winemaker
