1 | Wine | Willamette, 2009

"Luisa Ponzi decided not to make any vineyard designates in the 2009 vintage so the 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve was the beneficiary of that fruit. Dark ruby red in color, it exhibits an alluring perfume of cedar, Asian spices, incense, lilacs, black cherry, and black raspberry."

"Fresh boysenberry and purple plum are garlanded with bitter-sweet flowers; tinged with brown spices; underlain with clean red meatiness; and suffused with saliva-liberating salinity in a Pinot of refined tannins and outstanding persistence."

"This Oregon sparkling wine truly brings zest to life! The nose of lemon curd, raw honey, and almond biscotti harkens to the uplifting and refreshing palate to follow. With a fine mousse that buoys one up and flavors of Comice pear, custard, and marzipan that dance across your tongue, one cannot resist a grin as the effervescence slowly fades to a clean, minerally, citrus-toned finish. With the second sip, you’re guaranteed to be in an elevated state. Brut makes you better!"

"On the nose, one gets fresh cherries, rose, light citrus, earth, and anise, opening to dense spice of cocoa, essence of clove, coriander seed, and forest aromas. To the taste - an infusion of cherry, black cherry, plums, dense black fruit, complex spice, with balanced acidity and tannins, and an unparalleled texture in the mouth."

"Vivid red. Pungent, smoky aromas of blackberry, cherry-cola and licorice, with cracked pepper and anise notes adding complexity. Sappy, penetrating dark berry flavors show very good density, picking up bitter cherry and spicecake qualities with air. Gentle acidity gives the wine good spine. This ripe, lively pinot finishes with impressive punch and spicy persistence."

"Bright red. High-pitched aromas of strawberry and raspberry, with complicating notes of dried rose and Asian spices. Lively and precise on the palate, with gently sweet red fruit flavors and a touch of rose pastille. The floral and spice notes repeat on the gripping, persistent finish."