It has been a little while since I sat down to a selection of Pinot Gris and I was delighted with the showing of the assembled wines. Somewhat like Riesling, Pinot Gris can be all over the place in terms of residual sugar, and like many consumers I can be very happily seduced by a touch of sweetness. This group; however, managed to showcase their fruit ripeness without becoming over-sweet and my notes were filled with comments referring to their zestiness or tanginess which I found rather appealing. Hope you do too? 2023 Monte Christo Central Otago Pinot Gris Price: RRP $35 Rating: Very Good to Excellent Nutty/cashew nut, shifts to white flowers, honeyed notes, a wisp of pear. The palate nicely echoes the nose, a sense of delicacy to this, honey and pear notes to the fore yet this closes relatively dry with a combo of citrus and nuttiness framing that finish. With aeration, pear builds on the nose while the close adds a refreshing bittersweet quality. www.montechristowinery.co.nz 2023 Quartz Reef Bendigo Pinot Gris Price: RRP $35 Rating: Excellent to Outstanding Hits the savoury notes out of the gate, a minerally quality, the fruit & fragrance building as it opens up, a musky aspect later. A cooler feel, bright & crisp in the mouth, the fruit swaying between white peach & stonefruits, retaining that minerally quality, once again fruit sweet yet a tangy element keeps this fresh. Quiet complexity to this, more serious. www.quartzreef.co.nz 2022 Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Gris Price: RRP $30 Rating: Excellent Nicely fruited, fruit cordial and stonefruits are joined by a seasoning of spice, quite expressive, something between mineral & Turkish delight with time. The palate adds pear to the equation, a core of minerality, a little citrus, the long dry close bringing lip-smacking sapidity. Refinement, the flavours hang in the mouth, lemon peel notes refresh the finish. www.astrolabewines.co.nz 2023 Astrolabe Province Marlborough Pinot Gris Price: RRP $28 Rating: Excellent Quite floral, honeysuckle, pear, a touch of dry honey. Rich in the mouth, oily/ creamy, fat, super richness & fruit intensity, riffing between pear & nectarine, spice notes also in the mix. For all its power it remains surprisingly light on its feet, some real zestiness on the long finish adding a lip- smacking feel. With aeration more grip, nicely balanced, drinking superbly. www.astrolabewines.co.nz 2023 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris Price: RRP $24.99 Rating: Very Good to Excellent Dances between citrus and white flowers, fruit building, a nutty undercurrent. The palate continues the theme, citrusy qualities leading the way, an engaging bittersweet aspect reminiscent of apricot kernel melds with the fruit on the dry finish. There’s a real tanginess here, accentuating nectarine notes. Dreaming of chicken in a creamy sauce to pair with this. www.trinityhill.com 2023 Domain Road Defiance Bannockburn Pinot Gris Price: RRP $30 Rating: Excellent Rather beguiling nose, musk, flower petal, rose, pear, hints of apricot, quite complex. A richness & generosity to the palate, the fruit bold & expressive, contrasted by spice and nutty elements, fruit sweetness here but closing just off-dry. Am I seduced by the hint of sweetness here, possibly yes, but it is equally complex and interesting. Lots to enjoy. www.domainroad.co.nz
