2008 Ponzi Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot Noir

95 points and a "Editors' Choice" designation from Wine Enthusiast: "A gorgeous wine, lush and refined from the first sniff to the last swallow. Rose petals, cotton candy, chocolate-covered cherries-it’s a date in a bottle. As the wine rolls across the palate it seems to gain depth and detail, while keeping the exceptionally pretty fruit flavors front and center. Silky and lightly spicy, with cinnamon, toast, mocha and tobacco highlights." (3/1/11) 92 (+?) points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid ruby. Pungent, expressive scents of black raspberry, cherry pit, cola and violet, with a sexy spicecake quality gaining power with serration. Juicy, palate-staining red and dark berry flavors show real depth but come across as graceful, with very good mineral snap and lift. Fine-grained tannins add shape to the finish, which echoes the cherry and cola notes and lingers impressively. This very young wine has the concentration and balance to reward at least five or six years of cellaring." (Jul/Aug '10) 91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Pinot Noir Reserve is 100% Chehalem Mountain fruit. Aromas of white pepper, Asian spices, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry lead to a structured effort with loads of savory fruit crammed into its medium-bodied frame. With excellent volume and well-balanced by lively acidity, it should evolve for 3-4 years and deliver prime drinking from 2013 to 2023." (Oct. 2010)