A Blast from the Past

Selecting the wines that would go into our 10^th Anniversary shipment was no easy feat. We had to deliver something special that wouldn’t disappoint. We chose our 2011 Dolcetto and 2011 Chardonnay, two varietals that are always in high demand in the Tasting Room. Plus, we feel they represent Ponte’s ever-improving quality of wine. We get nostalgic just thinking about it! Check out our first vintages of each of these grand wines – a 2005 Dolcetto and a 2002 Chardonnay. Remember these?

Dolcetto means “little sweetie” in Italian, but it is far from sweet. It’s light and fruity, but that’s where the correlation ends. Much like Sangiovese, it pairs exceptionally well with a good ole’ homemade pizza. And visually, it’s my favorite label year after year. That counts for something, right?

Now, some Chardonnay talk. Some people claim to be “ABC” drinkers (Anything But Chardonnay) and I often can’t blame them. Chardonnay can be too oaky for my liking so I usually skip it when I go wine tasting in Temecula and opt for a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. When I stop by the Member Reserve Room to serve wine on the weekends, I never fail to come across a Member that hasn’t even tried our Chardonnay. Naturally, I politely pressure them into a tiny, tiny taste of it, they’re pleasantly surprised and voila! A Ponte Chardonnay fan. It lacks that notorious buttery oak flavor and instead carries a smooth, vanilla finish. I would pair it with a classic chicken dish like chicken cordon bleu (or do a twist on the classic and use goat cheese), or a creamy pasta dish. Think buttery sauces, not acidic dishes.

So enjoy these classic bottles as a blast from the past and let us know what you plan to pair it with!

–Elyse Barton

–What are you pairing your current shipment wines with this month?