Wither Hills Early Light Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019 $17.99 
Harvested earlier than their other Pinot Gris lines, the Early Light takes advantage of grapes bursting with bright apple and pear flavours, but with lower levels of natural sugar, so they’re able to create lower alcohol levels and still maintain good varietal character. It’s a teensy bit pink, indicating some skin contact for ‘complexity’ – and that’s a commendable aim. Personally I prefer fuller-bodied Pinot Gris, however this 9.5%abv example is perfectly pleasant and rocks crunchy freshness.
