Ponzi Vineyards
2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Fact Sheet
Vineyard Profile
This Pinot Noir is a blend of LIVE Certified Sustainable fruit from Ponzi’s Madrona and Aurora vineyards, as well as fruit from Linda Vista, Gemini, Alloro, Lazy River, Gran Moraine, Wahle, Sunset View and Briscoe vineyards.
This wine meets requirements for the Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine (OCSW) program for responsible agriculture and winemaking practices certified by an independent third party.
Vintage Report
In the end, 2009 made some spectacular wines, but reflecting back, the most dominant impression is how schizophrenic it was! There was no clear understanding of whether it was a cool vintage or a warm vintage until all was said and done. After a colder-than-normal winter, the region started off with a late budbreak. As the winery headed into the summer, the temperatures were quite moderate, leading Ponzi to believe it was in for a late, cool year. Then, July and August brought extreme heat spikes, desiccating fruit, rushing ripeness along and catching the winery's attention. Harvest began in late September with some very ripe, young vineyards and white varietals. October cooled down again, and Ponzi had the luxury of leaving the majority of the fruit to gain flavor without accumulating sugar, while the cool nights kept acidity in check. 2009 proved to be very similar to the 2002 or 2006 vintage.
Vinification
All of the fruit was hand sorted and destemmed. Fermented in small lots with five days of cold soak to increase aroma and color, the peak temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The fermentors were aerated or manually punched down twice a day for 12 to 20 days before lightly pressing at dryness. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (30 percent new) for 11 months. It was racked and bottled by gravity without filtration or fining and was aged in bottle for five months before its release.
Tasting Notes
Spiced cherry, cinnamon, clove and graham cracker aromatics lead to a soft entry of licorice and peppercorn notes. The mid palate sweetness finishes with dusty firm tannins. --Luisa Ponzi, Winemaker
