B-21 Top Recommendation
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A duo of classically styled, age worthy Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley, the 94 pt. 2019 Ponzi Pinot Noir Tavola and 96 pt. 2021 Ponzi Pinot Noir Laurelwood offer the combination of aromatic, vibrant earthy fruit and smooth, silky tannins that beckons Oregon Pinot fans to pour another glass, meticulously crafted by one of the region's pioneering Pinot Noir producers at a terrific value price to enjoy often.
Relocating from California in the 1960's, founders Dick and Nancy Ponzi were among the first to reject the advice of UC Davis experts that the Willamette Valley was unsuitable for growing Pinot Noir, purchasing a 20-acre farm southwest of Portland in Beaverton and releasing their first vintage of Ponzi Vineyard Pinot Noir in 1974. Expanding over the last five decades to encompass 130 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards, Ponzi was one of the key players encouraging the establishment of the new Laurelwood AVA, situated on the north and east facing slopes of the Chehalem Mountains at one of Willamette's highest elevations and marked by its unique ancient basalt layered over the silty soil called loess that is known for contributing earthy, spiced nuances to Pinot Noir. From a cooler vintage that produced "epic Pinot Noirs of noteworthy elegance and energy" according to Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, second generation winemaker Luisa Ponzi sourced the 2019 Ponzi Pinot Noir Tavola from Ponzi's 25-acre Avellana Vineyard in the newly established Laurelwood District AVA along with other sustainably grown plots in the Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton, and Eola-Amity Hills AVA's, fermenting the parcels with native yeasts and aging it in 20% new French oak for 11 months, yielding plush, mouth coating fruit with balanced acidity and integrated fine tannins. Sourced from Ponzi's most established vineyards throughout the Laurelwood District AVA, the elegant 96 pt. Ponzi Pinot Noir Laurelwood boasts aromatic, spiced brambly fruit with juicy acidity and sleek tannins, from an outstanding vintage the Wine Spectator's Tim Fish describes as "a return to form for those who love classic Oregon Pinot Noir."
Among the greatest values in Oregon Pinot Noir, the refined and appealing 94 pt. 2019 Ponzi Pinot Noir Tavola and 96 pt. 2021 Ponzi Pinot Noir Laurelwood continue Ponzi's legacy as "a reference point for American Pinot Noir" according to the Wine Advocate, expressing their unique Willamette Valley origins and unbeatably priced to mix a case to enjoy over the next decade. | 
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