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Ponzi Vineyards

Tavola Pinot Noir 2017

Willamette Valley

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The 2017 Tavola Pinot Noir continues a string of amazing Tavola vintages. The running joke at our office is that the wine is literally too good for the price. While made from lower elevation sites and younger vines, and handled in a way to emphasize a fruit forward character, with soft tannins, anything Luisa Ponzi approaches will have high quality as prerequisite. Tavola is the type of wine that can be an introduction to Oregon and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and, with its generous fruit and exotic spice and floral notes, the start of a delicious exploration.

Vineyard

The 2017 Tavola Pinot Noir is produced from Ponzi’s LIVE Certified Sustainable Avellana Vineyard, as well as other sustainably-grown vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs.

WINEMAKING

All fruit is sorted then destemmed to 1.5–3 ton fermenters. An extended cold soak increases color and aroma. Fermented by native yeasts, the peak temperatures reach 90°F. The fermenters were aerated or punched down twice a day, then lightly pressed. The wine was aged in French oak for 11 months (20% new). A barrel selection is made for Tavola, then racked and bottled by gravity without fining or filtration. This wine has been bottle aged for 4 months before release.

Vintage

The 2017 vintage was a welcome throwback to more classic vintage years after the previous 5 warm years. Winter and spring were unusually cold, delaying bud break by a few weeks into April and bloom following suit in late June. Fortunately, the Willamette Valley was spared any effect from the terrible smoke and fires that wreaked havoc in Northern California.

Fruit set was very large, so judicious fruit thinning was required to maintain quality and control volume. Cool nights during harvest kept acids brilliant and rain ensured beautiful conditions for ripe, clean fruit with mature skin and seed tannin. Reminiscent of recent vintages 2010 and 2011–this vintage will be one to enjoy immediately and for the long term.

Tasting Notes

Beautiful aromatics of blackberry, cinnamon stick, dried cranberry and cedar jump from the glass. The mouth is supple with strawberry, balsamic reduction, lavender, thyme and cocoa powder; finishing with soft tannins laced with black licorice.

Food Pairing

Glazed Roast Salmon with Beets and Spring vegetables.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir

Appellation

Willamette Valley

Farming

Tavola Pinot Noir is produced from Ponzi’s LIVE Certified Sustainable Avellana Vineyard, as well as other sustainably-grown vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs.

Alcohol

13.7%

Suggested Retail Price

$27

Reviews

90

"Smooth and open-knit, showing very good depth to the bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors"

Vinous Media - "Deep red. Ripe, mineral-tinged red berry and cherry scents, along with a hint of succulent herbs and building spiciness. Smooth and open-knit, showing very good depth to the bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors, which take on a smoky quality with aeration. Shows the forward character of the vintage and finishes long and supple, with repeating spiciness and gentle, even tannins. (20% new French oak)"

Trade Materials

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