Ponzi Vineyards
Tavola Pinot Noir 2016
Willamette Valley
The 2016 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 2016 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
2014, 2015 and 2016 have been
defining the new normal with early vintages in the Willamette Valley. 2016 jumped out of the gate with bud break a full 3 weeks earlier than what we are accustomed to. Flowering was condensed by a heat spell and an early summer gave us beautiful warm temperatures until August when it heated up. Harvest arrived later that month and was in full swing by early September. All fruit was in the door by the first part of October. Fruit quality was immaculate with absolutely no disease pressure. Fruit set was small due to the short flowering time. Berry size was also small resulting in lower yields and gorgeously intense fruit. I would liken 2016 to the 2006 vintage where we saw lush, beautiful wines with unexpected elegance and acidity, but in achingly short supply. Truly, a stellar vintage for Oregon.
Tasting Notes
This presumptuous nose of brambly blackberry notes, cinnamon stick, graham cracker and lavender is as intriguing as the palate which gives salted caramel, black tea and strawberry balsalmic notes. The generous fruit provides a silky middle and soft finish with lingering spicy tannins.
–WINEMAKER LUISA PONZI
Food Pairing
Glazed Roast Salmon with Beets and Spring vegetables.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Willamette Valley
Suggested Retail Price
$27
Reviews
"Plenty of power"
Wine Enthusiast - October 17, 2018 “Ponzi’s Tavola consistently out-performs reserve-level wines from elsewhere. Credit the outstanding vineyard sources, which include Ponzi’s Avellana vineyard, and of course the skillful winemaking, which begins with native yeast fermentation. It was aged 11 months in 20% new French oak and has scents and flavors of Bourbon tea, cinnamon spice and black cherry fruit. There’s plenty of power and a clean, fresh finish.”
More on Ponzi Vineyards Tavola Pinot Noir 2016
From Boots, Buckets, & Brawn to Today – Ponzi Vineyards Turns 50
May 15, 2020 - Katrina René of The Corkscrew Concierge published an extremely detailed, and beautiful story illustrating Ponzi Vineyards' incredible 50 year journey. This past February, René had the privilege to sit down with Founder…
Off the Vine: Valentine wines straight from the heart
February 8, 2019 - In advance of Valentine’s Day next week, the Ponzi 2016 Tavola Pinot Noir was featured on Telegram.com, the online version for the local Massachusetts newspaper, in the story “Off the Vine: Valentine wines…
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Laurelwood Pinot Noir 2022
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Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the map in the United States and the world, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work of the last 30 years with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired Ponzi Vineyards in 2021. The estate’s drive to create distinctly pure Pinot Noir, in a distinctly Oregon manner, has never been stronger.
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For over 50 years, the Ponzi family has farmed 140 acres of certified sustainable vineyards all planted on Laurelwood soil. Situated along the Northern ridge of the Willamette Valley, these ancient soils are comprised of fractured basalt layered over with a fine, windblown sediment called loess. A decade-long effort by sisters Maria and Luisa, alongside their neighbors has resulted in the recognition of Oregon’s first soil-based AVA, the Laurelwood District. The inaugural 2017 vintage boasts the new label design, with a textured effect that resembles the layers of the Laurelwood soils.
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Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the map in the United States and the world, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work of the last 30 years with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired Ponzi Vineyards in 2021. The estate’s drive to create distinctly pure Pinot Noir, in a distinctly Oregon manner, has never been stronger.
Laurelwood Pinot Noir 2018
Laurelwood District, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley
Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the map in the United States and the world, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work of the last 30 years with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired Ponzi Vineyards in 2021. The estate’s drive to create distinctly pure Pinot Noir, in a distinctly Oregon manner, has never been stronger.
Laurelwood Pinot Noir 2019
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Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the map in the United States and the world, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work of the last 30 years with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired Ponzi Vineyards in 2021. The estate’s drive to create distinctly pure Pinot Noir, in a distinctly Oregon manner, has never been stronger.
Pinot Noir Reserve 2019
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Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve is the epitome of restrained power. It hails from estate grown fruit on Laurelwood soils in the Chehalem Mountains, including from some of Oregon’s oldest vines. This remarkably complex wine is handcrafted with tremendous attention to detail.
Pinot Noir Reserve 2018
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Pinot Noir Reserve 2014
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The Pinot Noir Reserve comes primarily from estate grown fruit on Laurelwood soil in the Chehalem Mountains, including from some of Oregon’s oldest vines. It is hand crafted on a boutique scale, with tremendous attention to detail. An intense wine, it has an explosive nose of sassafras, coffee, sweet plum and spice box; a full and seamless palate with baker's chocolate, blueberry, lavender and tea; and a long and balanced finish. I
Pinot Noir Reserve 2016
Willamette Valley
The Pinot Noir Reserve comes primarily from estate grown fruit on Laurelwood soil in the Chehalem Mountains, including from some of Oregon’s oldest vines. It is hand crafted on a boutique scale, with tremendous attention to detail. An intense wine, it has an explosive nose of sassafras, coffee, sweet plum and spice box; a full and seamless palate with baker's chocolate, blueberry, lavender and tea; and a long and balanced finish.
