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Showing posts with label Pinot Gris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pinot Gris. Show all posts

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

Parish Vineyards Pinot Gris 2024



Green apple, lemon; granita of aforementioned with a fresh herb lift.


Feels more like Gris/gio, with both a textural lick, accompanied with a minerally acid tinge. Cool climate Gris is something we should embrace - and hope to see more of. A lingering presence of flavour sure leaves its mark on the memory and palate. 92


Tasted on: Friday 25th July
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Closure: Screwcap
Website: Hill- Smith Family Estates

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Monday, 3 June 2024

Stockman's Ridge Rider Pinot Gris 2023


Pouring a pale straw, just enough colour for interest.

Poached pear and cinnamon notes, a classic combination and varietally true. Suggestion of citrus blossom, white pepper and fennel tops.

There's a nice crispness to the wine, in-line with its 12.3% alcohol. Dry and with a lingering acidic freshness. 91

Tasted on: Sunday 2nd June
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://stockmansridge.com.au/
Sample Courtesy of: https://definewine.com.au/

Friday, 30 June 2023

Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Pinot Gris 2022


Hills Gris here, exuding the hallmark qualities of the style at a textbook 13%.

It's all poached pear, quince, with a trailing edge of patching spice.

Faint textural edge, but I personally prefer to see more width and breadth in the style. Somewhat redeemed through a generous length to it. 89

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Wednesday, 17 November 2021

De Bortoli Blue Pinot Gris 2020


I didn't read the accompanying PR at first and expected this to actually be blue with some adjunct. 


So why blue: as the press release actually states:"Blue evokes feelings of calmness, trust and confidence, paired with the dragonfly and butterfly which symbolise hope, change and freedom. That is what De Bortoli’s new BLUE Pinot Gris is all about." 

Very aromatic offering here: ripe pear, apple skins and florals - all giving aromatic lift and presence.

Textural, a generosity of weight to the palate. The pear is prominent, spice, phenolics adding a drying conclusion to the finish. Good spring drinking. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 2nd September
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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Thursday, 27 August 2020

Harewood Estate Flux VII Pinot Gris Gewürz Riesling 2018


A trio of Alsatian stalwarts, here growing alongside each other in Great Southern's Frankland River. It's comprised of Pinot Gris (60%), Gewurztraminer (30%) and Riesling (10%). 

Certainly an interesting blend. The muskiness of the Gewürz is immediately evident, and flows through to the palate, lending a lively and almost spritz-like bent to things.

The palate has a fine spine of acid, about which hangs a gentle textural play. Gentle is the right word, softly ebbing along to its conclusion. 92 

Tasted on: Friday 31st July 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://harewood.com.au/

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Tuesday, 26 May 2020

Jules Taylor Pinot Gris 2019


Redolent of pear drop lollies, supplemented with melon and stonefruit.

Quite delicate across the palate - getting the impression that could well be a marker of these Jules Taylor wines, that and originating from a somewhat cooler clime than Aussie examples I'm used to. 

There's a minerally mien across the back palate, a gentle tickle that conveys a cool edge with that. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 24th March
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.julestaylor.com/

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Friday, 7 February 2020

Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2019


A delightful and barely there blush of colour in the glass. Just ripe beurre blanc pear leads, stone fruit, subtle vanilla hints waft underneath, translating into an almost creaming soda aspect that flows gently across the palate.

A textural roundness and - yet- whilst dry does convey what may be perceived as a hint of residual on the palate. One could almost suspect some clever use of solids or such to give that texture and illusion, however a record dry vintage has given wines of quite remarkable fruit presence. A well made Gris for sure. 92

Tasted on: Wednesday 4th December
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.timadamswines.com.au/

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Saturday, 18 January 2020

Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2018


Mezzacorona is the largest grower of Pinot Grigio in the world.

Slight leesy cheesy vibe over poached pear. Fleshy, honeyed, hints of stonefruit, semblance of texture and a gentle line of acidity run through the palate.

The Italians will throttle me for this, but it feels more Gris than Grigio. Horses for courses, refreshment is high. 88

Tasted on: Monday 11th November, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.mezzacorona.it/en-us
Sample courtesy of: www.singlevineyards.com

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Sunday, 8 September 2019

Zonte's Footstep Shades of Gris Pinot Grigio 2019


"One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Show fear as he turns to hide
Aaah, we fade to Gris..."
Ripe nashi pear, something tropical - rock melon and stonefruit - what seems like estery notes (certainly those mini banana lollies at any rate). 
Width, weight and palate sweetness. Dry it's not, and doesn't purport to be so. Carries a decent length to it, but certainly one for this seeking a bit of fruit sweetness. 89 

Tasted on: Wednesday 4th September, a Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.zontesfootstep.com.au

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Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Gartelmann Stephanie Pinot Gris 2018


Something like pear slices meets cottage cheese, or such. Touch of honey, baking spice.

Acidity pricks it minerally dance across the palate, before the textural flourish, viscous.  It's the acidity that gives drive, energy - and gentle carry of flavour. 89 

Tasted on: Friday 26th July, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.gartelmann.com.au

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Tuesday, 20 August 2019

La La Land Pinot Gris 2018


Ticking the boxes Pinot Gris here. The usual pear, supplemented with some stonefruit aromatics. Nice zip of acidity that closes with a touch of spice. Easy going. 87

Tasted on: Thursday 18th July, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.wingara.com

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Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2018


Has the delightful kiss of the barest of skin contact, a pale golden/ translucent onion skin blush, that I like in a Gris. 

Don't serve too chilled, else you'll suppress the delicate aromatics: blossom, Nashi pear (AKA 'papples' as they're known.around these parts, being a pear that looks like an apple). 

There's a textural stonefruit line that runs across the palate, more like a peach nectar - seemingly bringing with it a residual sweetness. Lends that width, in the way sugar is want. Temporarily prolongs the finish. Would work well with a dish carrying some spice, a decent Thai dish perhaps. 88 

Tasted on:Tuesday 2nd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.timadamswines.com.au

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Monday, 26 November 2018

Cook's Lot Pinot Gris 2018


I've never really quite understood nougat (or 'nugget' as I referred to it in my youth), save for its writ large here and offers appeal. 

Canteloupe melon, pear segments - more mineral on the palate than many a Gris offers. Has a little texture, bringing with it hints of citrus and tropical elements that bolster the profile. 

Certainly stands out from the crowd with respect to other Gris, and this somewhat straddles that Gris/gio territory. No bad thing mind. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 2nd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.cookslot.com.au/

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Sunday, 19 August 2018

Chateau Yaldara Foundations Pinot Gris 2017


Pinot Gris typically has that ripened pear aromatic profile, this Adelaide Hills example being no exception. It smells riper, you might even say it has that Autumnal feel - as opposed to, say the Spring of Riesling - with a heavier, veering to spice aspect. 

The palate, whilst not wanting for texture, lacks a little definition. Broad in profile, the spicier elements more pronounced on through to the finish. 89 

Tasted on: Tuesday 7th August, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://1847wines.com/

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Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Lowe Headstone Rosé 2017


Blend of Grenache, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Gris.

An attractive aromatic mix here, as perhaps belies its composition. All too often there's a tendency to go chasing specific aromatics, when instead a general floral perhaps may suffice. A suggestion of mango skin. 

A gentle mineral tickle, soft entry - the wine sitting comfortably in the palate. It's dry without any associated hardness, or firmness, certainly a wine at ease with itself. Adroitly handled. 91 

Tasted on: Wednesday 27th September, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 11.7%
Closure: Screwcap 
Website: lowewine.com.au

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Friday, 31 March 2017

La Bise Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2016


Gently spiced, apple and skins. 

Textural, powdery, even talcum like. Bruised apple on the back palate. Decent finish - carrying that apple long. 90 

Tasted on: Wednesday 7th December, a Flowerday
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://labisewines.com.au

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Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Yaldara Ruban Pinot Gris 2015


The very word Chateau immediately conjures up images of the Loire Valley or the distinguished maison of Bordeaux. We oft overlook some of the stunning historical architecture that Australian wineries call home. 

Yaldara - meaning 'sparkling' in the local Aboriginal dialect - is one such property, seeing is believing.

A cracking vintage in the Adelaide Hills, delicate pear and hints of fig carry the wine from the glass into your senses. The wine manages to avoid the overworked nature that afflicts many examples, yes there's a little textural spread, and it comes before a fantail of spread that spreads across the back palate.

Hints of honeydew melon, apple, and fig - again - had me yearning for a little blue cheese, walnut, fig and pear salad. Like for like, glass for glass, bite for bite. 91

Tasted on: Sunday 12th February, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://1847wines.com/

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Monday, 13 February 2017

La Bise 'Le Petite Frais' Rosé 2016


'La Bise' (French for the kiss) is Tash Mooney's (ex-Fox Gordon) solo project.

I can't avoid the temptation to talk of the kiss of strawberry (fraise) that leads here, fresh and fun in the glass. Delicate hints of spice waft from the glass, providing a little tickle for the olfactory organ. 

The palate is where the wine comes into its own: more spice evident, red berries - by virtue of cranberry, a little macerated  raspberry - and a drying, chalky texture that delicately coats the cheeks. 

There's a touch more fruit sweetness than your typical Provençale rosé, and perhaps that textural crunch. But mate, this is the Adelaide Hills meets the Tuscan Hills (Sangiovese), Rioja (Tempranillo) with a little textural Pinot Gris for good measure. Don't think, drink, a let yourself be transported to whichever destination you choose. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 11th February
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: labisewines.com.au

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Friday, 25 November 2016

Gartelmann 'Stephanie' Orange Pinot Gris 2016


Pear sorbet, lime zest, lemongrass; fresh and freshening - like a summer slushie.

Pear drops, a semblance of texture, palate presence - but fundamentally clean and linear. Straddles a Gris/gio line, a little fruit presence. 


Little to excite, nothing to reject. 87 

Tasted on: Monday 29th August, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.1%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.gartelmann.com.au

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Sunday, 2 October 2016

Longhop Pinot Gris 2015


Honeydew melon, fresh pear, floral hints. 

More of the same across the palate, crisp acids a little phenolic grip. Not full textured, more like a Gris/gio. OK - but the first of this label's wines that haven't quite gelled for me. 88 

Tasted on: Wednesday 10th August, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.oldplains.com/Wines.htm

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