1989 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve

The 1989 Pinot Noir-Reserve exhibits more structure than the regular bottling, an extremely elegant, berry-scented, vividly pure nose, rich, medium-bodied, expansive flavors, and a smooth, moderately tannic finish. Ponzi continues to make Oregon's most complex Pinot Noirs. Their 1989s are significantly different from the gamey, animal, exotic, almost Cotes de Nuits style of the 1988s. The 1989s exhibit more rich, spicy, leafy, berry fruit, with none of the earthy, smoky, game-like aromas that made the 1988s so complex. If one thinks of Ponzi's 1988s as America's equivalent of a Morey-St.-Denis or Gevrey-Chambertin, their 1989s recall a fine Chambolle-Musigny.