Best price in town on this beauty. But that’s not the point…the point is that this blows away a lot of historic Oregon (and even Ponzi) Pinots that now sell for several times its price. (Both for the Wine Advocate and for our customers.)
Wine Advocate 96:
The 2021 Pinot Noir Laurelwood District has a pale ruby-purple color and slowly unfolding aromas of cranberries, tangerine peel, pipe tobacco and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and generous with concentrated fruit, grainy tannins, plenty of refreshing acidity and a long, spicy finish.
Of nearly a hundred Ponzi Pinots they’ve reviewed, this one comes in second only to a rare special $110 bottling.
Luisa Ponzi says:
This perfumed nose shows beautiful spice notes of black pepper, nutmeg and mesquite with floral aromas of lavender and dried rose petal. Ripe blueberry, raspberry and blackberry bramble mingle throughout. The mouth mimics the nose with spice notes, maple, black cherry reduction and dried sage. Chocolate nibs, malted and cinnamon frame the sweet mid palate, fresh with juicy acidity and finishing with lovely long, dusty tannins.
Ponzi once had a reputation as not only Oregon’s top Pinot producer, but also its most expensive. This great Pinot, however, is a gift.
And yes, this really is rated higher than every single vintage of Ponzi’s famous Pinot Noir Reserve ever!
