“I don’t like dessert wine.”  Famous last words!

I have to admit, before I joined the team here, I uttered these words plenty
of times. Funny how things change… I love this wine too much; it’s a
dangerous thing. What better way to end a long day than with a few (well,
maybe several) sips of this perfectly balanced snapshot of a long, cool
vintage? The white 2010s are easily distinguishable in their low alcohol
(10.8% in this instance), and perfectly showcase the bright, crisp fruit
inherent in these early Muscat and white Riesling grapes, while also
allowing some earthy minerality to peek its head through.

My favorite features of the Vino Gelato are some subtle apricot and ripe
melon notes, which make an appearance at the outset and then recede so that
the wine can finish with a bit of tart Rainier cherry.

I’ve learned a lot about my own palate through making friends with this
dessert wine; mainly, I now understand that in the hands of a talented
winemaker who is careful to capture the right equilibrium between flavor,
density, sweetness, and acid, dessert wine can be a thing of beauty!

If there is a “down side” to loving this wine, it’s that only 100 cases were
produced and that the wine is made only every other year. (The good news is
that we just opened the 1994 vintage, which has matured into a dark rum
colored gem with stunning secondary aromas and flavors including sandalwood
and toasted almonds… So, I will stock up and watch this amazing evolution in
the coming years.)

2010 Ponzi Vino Gelato - Half bottle