I must admit that Mr Collins and I went into this tasting with some "emotional baggage'', though we always remain open-minded.
Pinot gris in the past could be all over the place - some bone dry, some overly sweet, sometimes flabby and often with marked alcohol heat on the finish.
This collection was a whisper off dry but all found nice balance, retained wonderful freshness and avoided the burn that can bedevil the variety. A lesson learnt for me in the changing face of pinot gris.
Wet Jacket Pinot Gris
Price (cellar door): $27
Rating: Very good to excellent
Attractive and appealing nose: spiced apples and pears, a green herb/apple skin note, lanolin later. Spice, nuts and apple crumble on the palate with lovely viscosity and richness.
A whisper off dry, yet a fresh counterpoint leading to a long finish with a little warm glow.
Price: $27.95
Rating: Very good to excellent
Smoky bonfire, gum and stonefruits; pears with aeration. Concentration on the palate, textural and mouthfilling with nashi pear, apple and spice notes. A mid-palate zing adds to the freshness.
Not showy, but a wonderful flow makes this delicious.
Price: $26
Rating: Very good to excellent
Subtle but attractive nose offering gum and pear drops; opening nicely with time. A crisply fresh rather than viscous palate, clean, juicy and appealing. This builds, bringing in nuttiness and a citrusy lift.
Nicely balanced: the length builds to a lip-smacking close.
Price: $29.99
Rating: Very good
Fruit sherbet and red apple skin; something a little wild here. Textural entry with a richly mouthfilling palate adding notes of pear and fresh herbs: a brightness and freshness adding lift. The palate is quite grainy with hints of lemon verbena on the long finish.
Would go well with food.
Price: $25
Rating: Excellent
A deceptive wine initially shy on the nose with hints of grilled nuts, but fleshes out with aeration. A slippery, slinky mouthfeel with spiced pear and white stonefruits with citrusy zest on the close.
A wee bit of a slow burner that grows and grows in deliciousness, with a delightful finish.
Price: $21.95
Rating: Very good
A subtle but varietal nose with hints of burnt match. Quite powerful and textural, a sweet fruit entry that belies the nose bringing in nutty elements, spice and crisp apple.
A racy undercurrent across the mouth reminiscent of citrus rind or citrus oil.