Winemaker Notes
This classic New World expression of Oregon Pinot noir features nuances and flavors that are a hallmark of the region's varied soils and cool climate. Using Ponzi's most established vineyards at its base, Classico is blended with Pinot noir from throughout the Willamette Valley.
Aromas of ripe raspberry and black cherry are accentuated by crushed Mediterranean herbs of lavender, sage, rosemary and black tea. On the palate, dusty tannins are woven into hints of roasted coffee. Mouthwatering acidity is balanced by almond sweetness.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Lithe and delicately expressive, with aromas of fresh violet, cherry and orange peel, opening to sleek and layered flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2027.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Classico has inviting scents of mixed berry preserves, Earl Grey tea leaves, dust, earth and sweet spices with lovely floral notes. Medium-bodied and silky, it has generous fruits, a soft frame and lip-smacking freshness, finishing long and spicy. This was aged 11 months in 26% new French oak.
Home of some of the planet’s most amazingly elegant and expressive Pinot noir, the Willamette Valley is a pastoral, mixed landscape of green, bucolic rolling hills, dramatic forestlands and small, independent, friendly wine growers. As a leader in environmental stewardship, the valley has some of the nation’s most protective land use policies, with two-thirds of its vineyards farmed sustainably and over half, organically. While the valley claims a cool, continental climate, and is heavily influenced by the cold, moist winds of the Pacific Ocean, its warm and dry summers allow for the steady, even ripening of Pinot noir.
The potential of Willamette Valley Pinot noir continues to attract the investment of serious growers and winemakers both locally and from abroad, as naturally the finished wines bring accolades from professionals and enthusiasts. With a range of styles from delicate dried cherry, raspberry and hibiscus to stronger notes of truffle, mocha, plum and spice, a fine Willamette Valley Pinot noir is a perfect expression of both character and grace.