Sherwood Estate ‘Sherwood’ Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2017 $16.99 This wine is a little out of balance so it’s not the easiest of wines to drink. Aromas of honey, baked pear are initially positive, yet there’s a slightly sour note on the palate which throws things slightly. There are better wines in the Sherwood stable.
pinot gris
Melton Estate Canterbury Pinot Gris
Melton Estate Canterbury Pinot Gris 2015 $20 Located in the leafy climes of West Melton, 20 mins or so drive west of Christchurch city, this pinot gris has a hint of botrytis character happening, honeyed notes, beeswax and some roast stonefruit showing through. Doesn’t really show the classic nashi, pear, quince and apple characters that … Read More
Tiki Estate Waipara Pinot Gris 2016
Tiki Estate Waipara Pinot Gris 2016 $14.99 (2.5 stars) There’s a brisk burst of beeswax and manuka honey on the nose and palate indicating some botrytis infection in the wine, but that adds complexity to the wine. Dry and spicy, it boasts the ususal suspects of pear and quince, but fails to deliver generosity in the … Read More
Crafters Union Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2016 $21 ★★★½
Ultra-pretty and bright like a pink diamond in the glass and shows fresh watermelon, light raspberry and soft peppercorn characters in the glass. Here’s a dry, crisp and refined Rosé that’ll have you singing in the summer in seconds flat. Sip with old fashioned curried sausages – yum! Available in supermarkets nationwide
The Natural Wine Co. Gisborne Pinot Gris 2016 $19.95 (4.5 stars)
How’s this for hands-off winemaking. Organic fruit harvested a little later than normal to enhance the fruit sweetness and then the juice is left to soak overnight with the skins to extract a little more texture and complexity. Extended lees stirring during a ferment kickstarted with wild yeasts from the vineyard itself has added layers … Read More
Ka Tahi East Coast Pinot Gris 2015 $19.99 (3.5 stars)
Worried that you’re going to get something sweet and boring? For years I was too, but today Kiwi winemakers are super-skilled at creating clean, lean, deliciously dry and delicately fragrant pinot gris and these are the styles I love to look out for. This is a new brand crafted by Rod McDonald’s team at his … Read More
Cottier Estate Gladstone Pinot Gris 2013 $17.50 (5 stars)
The rocky old Ruamahanga River in Gladstone nourishes Cottier Estate’s vineyards and helps them create classically full, generous pinot gris like this. Pinot gris that’s packed with pear, ripe juicy rose apple, nashi and a squeak of quince all crash across the tastebuds in this beautifully balanced aromatic white. Fat and sassy on the palate, … Read More
Haha Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2016 $13.99 (3.5 stars)
Highly scented and precise on the nose, fresh-cut pear, poached quince and powdery, talc-like characters leap from the glass. It’s also a very full, generous gris, soaking the palate with pipfruit, honeysuckle and spice. Don’t chill this down too much or you’ll stifle all those fruit layers. Sip with bacon-wrapped dates as a nibbly treat. … Read More
Gibson Bridge Barrique Ferment Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013 $46.99 (4.5 stars)
Howard and Julie Simmonds have made it their mission to turn out tiny amounts of stylish, complex wines with truckloads of character. Only 1800 bottles of this gris were produced and it’s crafted in a dry, toasty style which amps up the interest. Fresh tropical and quince characters on the nose, lead to musky, chai … Read More
Natural Wine Co. Gisborne Pinot Gris 2016 $19.99 4.5 stars
How’s this for hands-off winemaking. Organic fruit harvested a little later than normal to enhance the fruit sweetness and then the juice is left to soak overnight with the skins to extract a little more texture and complexity. Extended lees stirring during a ferment kickstarted with wild yeasts from the vineyard itself has added layers … Read More