Ponzi Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $19

Viewed as leaders in the Oregon wine industry for their work with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Luisa Ponzi and her family deserve similar praise for Pinot Gris, which her family first planted in 1978. While she increased production from the 2016 vintage by nearly 27 percent, the profile and balance continue with this latest release. Three of the family’s certified sustainable vineyards, as well as longtime sources throughout the Willamette Valley, come together for this delightfully dry yet tropical offering. Dried papaya and pineapple notes are joined by white peach, apricot and pear. There’s a dusting of minerality in the clean and long finish that easily deals with the touch of residual sugar (0.5%). This latest vintage is distributed nationally by VINTUS, offered online at the winery website and at the Ponzi family’s stylish Sherwood tasting room in the midst of Avellana Vineyard – one of the contributing sites for this Pinot Gris. And the price remains the same as the 2016 vintage. Folks will have to wait a bit longer for the 2017, which is scheduled to be released in July.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 19,000 cases

Alcohol: 13.1%

Winery website

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