WTN: No empty Ponzi scheme here

2004 Ponzi Arneis, Willamette Valley, OR. 13.7 abv. Probably among the wines I moved into the condo in 2006 and then overlooked along with a 2001 Ponzi Pinot Noir. I figured it to be over-the-hill but I was wrong. Who knew Arneis ages this well? Medium gold color. Stone-fruit scents with a hint of juniper. Really delicious. Good acidity and plentiful fruit. Hard not to gulp it down. Why didn't I buy more? I prefered this to an Italian Arneis opened a few weeks ago. I'll probably open the 2001 Ponzi Pinot Noir in July to see if it has also aged well despite being overlooked. Ponzi was the first to commercially produce Arneis grape in Oregon. The wine paired nicely with tortelloni stuffed with pork and prosciutto and served with an Alfredo sauce.

Wow. That is fun. I didn't even know Ponzi had an Arneis. I hope people keep pioneering white grapes up there. Too much pinot gris and blanc. Which are nice but rarely exciting when compared to the chardonnays and even some other random varietals I have had. (wait varietals or varieties? ... after 20 years of constantly refreshing myself on the topic and be told, I still never remember)

Thanks for the note.

Jason

Jason, I've been told that varietal is an adjective as in "The Syrah shows varietal characteristics of smoke and meat and pepper" while variety is the correct noun as in "the Pinot Noir grape variety is a finicky and sensitive one to grow." However, use of varietal as a noun is so common that it may be more accepted now.

Jason,

I've been told that varietal is an adjective as in "The Syrah shows varietal characteristics of smoke and meat and pepper" while variety is the correct noun as in "the Pinot Noir grape variety is a finicky and sensitive one to grow."

However, use of varietal as a noun is so common that it may be more accepted now.

You are exactly right. But I am afraid that the "wine snobs" in the discussion groups and all of the wine writers will prevail with their misuse of this adjective. Might be too late to stop.

You are exactly right. But I am afraid that the "wine snobs" in the discussion groups and all of the wine writers will prevail with their misuse of this adjective. Might be too late to stop.

Really? There's a lot of misuse out there, but it's "snobs" and "all the wine writers" who do that? Elucidate, please.

Jane is correct re adjective vs. noun, but I'll note that most people now accept "varietal" as shorthand for "varietal wine" (as in "fighting varietals"), which makes sense to me (English is constantly evolving). If you are referring to a grape: variety, not varietal.

OK by me:
That Nebbiolo wine had a lot of varietal character.
Pinot Noir is the most important varietal in OR

Not OK by me
Pinot Noir is the varietal that has the most problems with mildew in OR.
I think Grenache is the biggest varietal in this CdP