The bountiful 2014 growing season in the Willamette Valley allowed Luisa Ponzi to double production of her family’s reserve Pinot Noir, and yet it merited our top rating for the second straight vintage. Her sources range from the north slope Chehalem Mountains estate sites of Abetina, Aurora and Madrona Vineyards to other sustainably farmed farm fruit at Kason, Linda Vista, Walnut Ridge and Zenith Vineyards. That lineup matches up with the 2013 bottling, as does the barrel program of 30% new French oak. It offers nice toast and intense black cherry and blackberry aromas with bubblegum and white pepper notes. Massive black cherry and black currant flavors make for robust midpalate backed by rich and lingering blackberry acidity that bodes extremely well for the cellar.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 2,600 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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