4 x 2010 Pinot Gris
Couldn’t be bothered thinking of a more inventive title for this post, so there you have it. Tasted through a small bracket of four PGs, 3 from NZ and one from Tasmania. All were decent wines. There were obvious similarities in the three from New Zealand, which was good to see.
Greywacke Pinot Gris 2010. Marlborough, NZ.
Easily the highlight of the tasting. Haunting aromatics of pear, peach, mandarin and chalk dust. Viscous with subdued, cleansing acid. There’s a real purity showing, and texture is shaped by oak treatment. Quite Alsatian in style. Length carried by poached pear characters. I should add that I really like the simplistic design of the Greywacke website, though I’m not so keen on the PDFs. Very Good
Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Pinot Gris 2010. Gisborne, Marlborough, Hawkes Bay.
A few aspects let this wine down, namely lifted alcohol and jagged acidity. However, it’s certain not bad. Candied pear and quince characters. It’s got a touch of sweetness which boosts its profile. Interestingly, there’s 7% of Gewurztraminer in the wine. Average – Good.
Wither Hills Pinot Gris 2010. Marlborough.
Residual sugar encourages quaffing, but it’s balanced. Some sulfur on opening. Herb, pear and almond shell. Fresh acidity cleans up the palate, perhaps too tidily. Made for summer, al fresco drinking. One of many nice wines in the Wither Hills range. Good.
Josef Chromy Pinot Gris 2010. Tasmania.
Dancing mineral nose. Clean and restrained with a savoury personality. Nutty and herbal with a touch of tropical fruit. Different style to the NZs. Good.
