Ponzi Vineyards Willamette Valley 2008 Pinot Noir, $26.34-$35.99, 89 points, begins with a deep dark burgundy color and violet tints, the aroma is a wonderful cinnamon-strawberry with chocolate hints, but textually a bit heavy (Too chewy for me), and having flavors of licorice, plum, black cherry, and hints of cinnamon.
The acidity is food friendly, the tannin is mild, and the wine is dry with alcohol at 13.8%.
Finishes with a long spicy cherry.
I find this to be a different Pinot Noir, and maybe it would not be fair to dissect this one into Quality-Price-Ratio, but if you like a Thanksgiving wine that will hold-up to just about anything you serve, you might want to add this one to your menu.
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Whoever is reading these comments, do NOT mistake Ponzi Vineyards for Ponzi Scheme. The Ponzi PN is fantastic. No foolin', I don't know of one wine that I've had from them that isn't. And I agree about this being a great Thanksgiving pairing. Having said that, I must say that over the last couple of years, I do prefer Sangioveses, Barbera, & a few other varietals with our holiday meals, whereas I used to go for PN &/or a Rhone White.
ReplyDeleteClaire, I found it odd that you said: "I do prefer Sangioveses, Barbera. . . with our holiday meals. . . " when on Oct. 22 I said this: "I thought I might get prepared for Thanksgiving by tasting some supposedly "good" Pinot Noirs and maybe some food-friendly Italian wines." That's what I'm "working" on next (I should have said preparing for).
ReplyDeleteI get your love of Ponzi as the res. scores 95 Points - Wine Enthusiast and ST scores it 92 points, all this makes me want to find a bottle;-)
As for the "big" pinot that this is, my preference is for a somewhat lighter-style, but the Golden-eye did share some of the textual qualities of the Ponzi, but was a more complex and that finish was remarkable.
Thanks for you comments.