Ponzi Vineyards - Aurora Chardonnay2014
WHITE WINE
-
Producer
-
Country
USA
-
Region
Oregon
-
Appellation
Willamette Valley
-
UPC
0 15643 56843 5
Technical Details
Estate
In the late 1960s Dick and Nancy Ponzi uprooted their family to pursue a dream of producing world class Pinot Noir. After research trips to Burgundy and an extensive search, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm just southwest of Portland, Oregon. The winery was founded in 1970, and the first 4 barrels of wine produced in 1974. Ponzi has since become internationally acclaimed for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. For the last 25 years President Maria Ponzi and Winemaker Luisa Ponzi have brought the estate to even greater heights, setting the standard for
Oregon and remaining at the forefront of the nation’s top wine producers.
Vineyard
The Chardonnay grapes for this single vineyard cuvée were grown at Ponzi's LIVE Certified Sustainable Aurora Vineyard located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA.
Vinification
The grapes for this wine were sorted and whole cluster pressed. The juice settled for 12 hours before going to barrel for fermentation. Using 30% new French oak and 70% neutral French oak the cool temperature wild yeast fermentations continued well into the spring of 2015. Malolactic fermentation is 100% completed with wild bacteria. Lees are stirred weekly for 6 months before a fall racking to neutral oak and bottling in the spring of 2016. Aged in barrel for a total of 18 months and in bottle for 6 months before release.
Vintage
Said to be a Goldilocks vintage in Oregon; not too hot, not too cold and not too much rain! 2014 was, however, the warmest season on record in the Willamette Valley, due not to high maximum temperatures, but rather higher than normal minimum temperatures. A warm spring and a little rain gave way to an early bud break and the season maintained warm temperatures throughout. Well above normal nighttime temperatures accelerated ripening and harvest began at the very beginning of September. The dry weather inhibited disease pressure, allowing for a bountiful, clean and quite ripe vintage.