Lemon peel, raw hazelnut, brûléed yellow apple. Barely ripe pineapple, dried straw, crunchy white nectarine. Bartlett pear, young melon, and custard highlight a simultaneously dignified yet decadent display elegantly complicated by vanilla, jasmine, and toasted almond. Surprisingly fragrant notes of honeysuckle and hydrangeas bolster aromatics with a perfumed floral overlay that seamlessly intertwines with cashew and wonderful nuttiness. A dusting of pretty baking spices including cinnamon and nutmeg continue to enhance the layered bouquet as mild impressions of pie crust and banana cream provide a subtle confection-tinged twist. Tremendously focused, balanced, and energetic on the palate; prioritizing tension over roundness within an intricate dance of graceful power. Medium in body with elevated acidity and finishing with long lingering minerality. This 2016 Willamette Valley Chardonnay Reserve by Ponzi Vineyards is an immensely deep, delicate, and complex Oregon white.

Although early efforts to grow Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley achieved mostly mixed results, Chardonnay plantings have increased dramatically in recent years after growers began focusing on clones better suited to Oregon terroir. This bottling, crafted by Ponzi Vineyards using Chardonnay sourced from select vineyards around the Willamette Valley, brilliantly showcases the elegance and complexity that Oregon can coax from this lauded noble grape. While it bursts with distinctly ripe and baked fruit characteristics bolstered by florals and oak spice, this wine is ultimately driven much more by its impressive tension and precision. It expresses delicious creamy roundness yet cuts through it with bright acidity and minerality; somehow managing to capture both the intellectual and hedonistic traits of Chardonnay while presenting them in a single cohesive package.