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Ponzi Vineyards 2011 Reserve Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $30
Chehalem Mountains estate fruit from Aurora and Avellana vineyards got a bit of help from Thistle Vineyards in the nearby Dundee Hills, and Luisa Ponzi takes a gentle and patient approach with her reserve program. Wild yeast fermentation, six months of weekly barrel stirring and 18 months of aging in mild oak allows for aromas of pineapple, lemon/lime, dusty apple and minerality. There’s just a whiff of buttery toast in the back, and the same goes for the palate. Pleasing richness of apple butter and dried pineapple comes with a hint of grassiness and starfruit on the midpalate, and it’s chased with a finish of bright acidity. Enjoy with chicken rubbed with herbs, grilled asparagus or sautéed kale.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,015 cases
Alcohol: 13.2%
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