To put that into perspective though, the 20,953 tonnes harvested in 2019 are equivalent to only 7% of the volume of sauvignon blanc produced.
A growing amount of pinot gris is now blended with pinot noir to slake the thirst for the rising pinot rose category, but that still leaves plenty for all the pinot gris fans. Here are a few.
North Cantebury
Pinot Gris
Price: $20.99
Rating: Excellent
Pear, gumdrops, a little struck match and burnt toast with a saline hint.
Powerfully pear driven, just off-dry palate with hints of spice, gum and a whiff of salted caramel.
Shows excellent richness yet also with freshness building as it opens up.
A sweet-fruited note hangs on the long finish.
Good bang for buck.
Gisborne
Pinot Gris
Price: $18.99
Rating: Very good
Candied citrus peel, talcum, gum and stonefruit, adding straw & honey with aeration.
Subtle palate, relatively dry, initially somewhat inexpressive with a soapy nuance, yet this gains interest nicely in the glass showing good weight, depth and texture with bright lift on the close.
Some very easy drinking here.
Marlborough
Pinot Gris
Price: $22
Rating: Very good
Bubble gum, wine gums, toast and honey, hard candy with time.
The palate is drier than the nose would suggest.
Ripe nectarine, citrus, barely ripe apricot with attractive oiliness: a little apricot kernel note adds chewiness.
There’s good texture and richness here, and this is in the slot to enjoy now.
North Cantebury
Pinot Gris
Price: $20.99
Rating: Excellent
Rich and appealing nose of musk, toast and honey, with added interest from the botrytis influences.
Palate is less sweet than you might expect sitting in the off-dry category.
Fascinating mix of stonefruit, honey and hops; the latter bringing an intriguing bittersweet note into play.
An appealingly long finish.
Dress Circle
Central Otago
Pinot Gris
Price: $28
Rating: Excellent
Talcum and gum drops, stonefruit, a little smoker’s lolly, honey later as the nose swells.
Subtly expressed yet appealing.
Rich and textural palate, just off-dry in style, retaining freshening acidity.
Good balance with nice fruit weight; creamy texture enlivened by a little apricot kernel chewiness.
The Falcon
Martinborough
Pinot Gris
Price: $19.99
Rating: Good to
very good
A subtle nose playing inthe sweet ‘n’ sour spectrum, rounding out with aeration.
Noticeably sweeter palate, creates a counterpoint to sweet ‘n’ sour notes: time sees this evolve to pear and boiled sweets.
Good acidity creates freshness.
