If sales figures are to be believed, Pinot Gris is likely to be one of the biggest selling wine styles over the summer months. They are so darned easy to enjoy and can also take a little chilling to cope with the heat of summer with aplomb. Today’s lineup is an all South Island one, wines from Marlborough and North Canterbury jostling for your attention with a quartet from Central. Drilling down, the Central offerings cover four different sub-regions with Pisa, Bannockburn, Wanaka and Alexandra all represented. Not all will be easy to find, but the enjoyment factor is there in all of them. 2025 Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris Price RRP $25 Rating Very Good to Excellent Beguiling perfume, gum, citrus, peach notes, youthfully fresh and very appealing. Creamily, slippery mouthfeel, fruit sweet yet dry, schisty/stony notes, fruit pastille with a lightly saline quality on the long close which echoes the warm glow of the summer sun. A hint of apricot now on the palate, very nicely done. www.julestaylor.com 2024 Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris Price RRP $34 Rating Very Good to Excellent Perfumed again, summer fruits, a honeyed aspect, more about the whole than the individual parts. Fresh, almost crunchy, a whisper of fruit pithy phenolics giving lift to the texture. Sweetly fruited, again with those honeyed influences, contrasted by bright acidity giving a tangy counterpoint. Fruit pastille now, nice volume and very easy drinking. www.penkridgefarm.co.nz 2024 Dicey Central Otago Pinot Gris Price RRP $32 Rating Very Good to Excellent There’s a nice classicism to this, pear, stonefruits, a wisp of peach, fragrant florally hinting at white rose, later a schist aspect. Good flavour intensity, balance and integration, a fresh line of acidity while a little touch of chewiness adds to the texture. A lemony citrus note comes through on the long, fresh close. All in all, lots to enjoy. www.dicey.nz 2025 Dunnolly North Canterbury Pinot Gris Price RRP $19.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Attractive, engaging nose, very typical for the variety, adding a minerally nuance. The palate turns up the volume, nicely ripe yet dry, excellent palate weight and depth of flavour, the fruit to the fore. With air, a touch of gum, while there’s a wisp of seashell on the close that nicely contrasts the fruit. Great appeal, a sunny disposition just begging to be enjoyed. www.dunnolly.co.nz 2025 Maude Central Otago Pinot Gris Price RRP $30 Rating Very Good to Excellent Fragrant nose, a dusting of icing sugar on turkish delight, nashi pear, a citrussy nuance. Cool in the mouth with bright acidity, ripe yet dry with some nice chewy qualities, picking up spice notes as it opens up. Youthfully bright, but already drinking very well with enjoyment to be had over the summer and beyond. It just works. www.maudewines.com 2025 McArthur Ridge Falls Dam Pinot Gris Price RRP $25.99 Rating Excellent Attractive subtlety, not overblown but just quietly draws you in, fruit pastille and sherbet lead. The palate strides into action, excellent fruit depth, sweetly ripe yet once again dry. Lovely mouthfeel, integrations and balance, a little touch of grip adding to the whole. Everything feels in place here, fresh, youthful, with a zesty crisp finish. www.mcarthurridge.com
