Lerzi, Dolcetto, Willamette Valley 2024

This is the 1st vintage of Lerzi Wines, a project of love by Luisa Ponzi & her daughter Mia Ponzi Hamacher. This is the 2nd & 3rd generation of Oregon wine pioneers, Ponzi Vineyards (now owned by Bollinger Champagne). They grow a small block of Dolcetto, which is most of the total acreage in Oregon. They brought the vines over themselves & planted them in their Aurora estate vineyard in 1991. This sweet little grape is native to Piedmont, Italy where fog (Nebbia) cools the vines.

Style: dry, red | Grape: 100% Dolcetto | Region: Laurelwood District within Chehalem Mountains within Willamette Valley, OR | Soil: Laurelwood (deep, well-draining wind-blown, glacial) | Winemaking: half destemmed & half whole bunch carbonically fermented. Both lots had full malo-lactic conversion in neutral oak & blended. | Pairs with: cacio e pepe pasta, tomato & basil pizza, & more | Alc: 13.6% | Retail: $42