Wine reviewer Mark Henderson samples some tasy pinot gris.
As pinot gris became more popular about 15 years ago, it was easy to pithily state that it was "a very a-gris-able'' wine, though one that sometimes came with afterburners as it could have a tendency to have a bit of alcoholic heat on the finish.
My tasting colleagues, Ricky and Alastair, and I agreed that pinot gris has become supremely popular, having a broad appeal, and this group of wines were comfortably in accord with that view.
Correction
The review of the Brancott Estate ‘O' Letter Series Marlborough Chardonnay last week incorrectly listed it as a 2012 vintage. It was a 2014 vintage.
Price: $28.50
Rating: Very good to excellent
A pleasing nose of citrus, hay and gumdrop lollies. While somewhat atypical, rather attractive at the same time.
Lovely mouthfeel; full and richly textured with hints of pear, spice and almonds.
Seamless flow through the mouth with a fresh lift on the finish.
Very together and great appeal here.
Price: $27
Rating: Very good to excellent
Lanolin, pears and a perfumed note.
The palate has texture but is tighter and more "upright''.
Complexity with lots of flavours on offer, minerality and grip, leading to a long dry finish of spice, pear and bush honey.
A finer-boned example which should also work well with food.
Price: $22
Rating: Fair
Bruised/very ripe apples with a wild yeast/reductive hint.
The palate gives a "sweet and sour'' note: a sweet fruit entry and driven by vinosity rather than fruit leading to a tangy, sour note on the somewhat clipped finish.
A little bit of phenolic grip; finishing dry.
Price: $22
Rating: Excellent
Lanolin, hay and manuka honey within a very pleasing but subtle aromatic expression.
Very powerful on the palate with spiced pear jam, honey and well-ripened fruit: perhaps a whisper of chewing gum.
This remains intense to the close with a lovely fruit note remaining.
Price: $22
Rating: Excellent
Pears and sweet fruit on the nose.
Drier and more structured with a touch of mineral creating a counterpoint to the pear and gumdrop sweetness.
Subtle at first with freshness and great balance.
This opens up in the glass and the finish is very appealing.
A crisper style with nothing out of place.
Delicious.
Price: $43
Rating: Very good
An interloper of sorts as this is an interesting field blend of riesling, pinot gris, pinot blanc and gewurztraminer.
Citrus, spices, honey, and even a grassy note on the nose with the added nuance of ripe gooseberry and boiled sweets on the palate.
This grows in confidence with aeration.
Price: $33.20
Rating: Excellent
Classical nose of pear and stonefruit with a light honeyed touch.
Pear boiled sweets on nose and palate.
Nice intensity on the palate and neatly balanced.
Moreish with some crisp apple bringing freshness, overlaid on nuttiness and spice.
Excellent length.
Delightful.
Price: $25
Rating: Very Good
Gumdrops and fruit in the tropical spectrum edging to pineapple.
An undercurrent of pear and apple.
The nose more appealing at first with the palate a little four square and fruit sweet.
This opened up and improved considerably with aeration and became a more complete package.
