2019 De Ponte Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley

The 2019 De Ponte Pinot Noir is a beautifully delicate wine, displaying the characteristic red fruit aromas of the Dundee Hills. Maraschino cherry, rose petals and wild strawberry lead on the nose, with a silky texture on the palate with subtle fruit and remarkable energy. Savory earthy and fresh herb undertones evolve with time in the glass with a promise that cellaring, for at least a few years, will reward nicely.

The ambitious challenge in the cellar is to improve constantly through continuous experimentation with winemaking techniques, vineyard sources and wine styles.  Our most contemporary enterprise, Pinot Noir, is frequently considered the grail of the winemaker’s world. Savagely difficult to cultivate in the vineyard and vinify in the cellar, the best efforts result in wines of purity, ethereal presence, and unparalleled sense of place.

The source of our grapes, De Ponte Vineyard, is in the heart of Oregon’s original American Viticulture Area (AVA). Here, our block of Dijon clone 115 Pinot Noir thrives in Jory red clay. Well protected from temperature fluctuations and drier than surrounding areas, prolonged even ripening conditions produce wines of nuance, with softer texture.  The wine was made completely gravity flow, with partial whole cluster and 100% whole berry fermentation before pressing to French oak to age, and has been bottled unfined and unfiltered.