Sam Hunt Gisborne Pinot Gris 2014 $21.95 ★★★½ Rich nashi pear and spicy apple strudel aromas sit alongside caramelised stonefruit flavours and a creamy, toasty complexity on the finish of this deliciously dry drink. This would be a great match for a smoked chicken and almond salad. www.lacantina.co.nz
pinot gris
Quest Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014
Quest Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014 $24 ★★★★½ What started out as a mistake (growing a small amount of pinot gris to co-ferment with pinot noir) ended up being an exciting solo project for Mark (Mack) Mason and Michelle Crawford. Fresh quince and nashi characters are sliced through with samurai sword acidity, leaving a … Read More
Sea Level Home Block Pinot Gris 2011
Sea Level Home Block Pinot Gris 2011 $19 ★★★★½ I love the aromas of frangipane, nashi and crème caramel while in the mouth there are layers of gingerbread, quince, pear and prickly, textural acidity. Created from fruit grown in their Mariri vineyard by talented winemaker Sam Smail, this flavourful pinot gris finishes dry and delicious. … Read More
Isabel Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012
Isabel Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012 $22 ★★★★ This is one of my new favourite pinot gris styles because I love the juicy, marmalade, peach and quince flavours and the rich, deeply textural mouthfeel. It hits that balance between mid-palate generosity and dryness, cleansing crispness and long, luxurious length of flavour. www.glengarry.co.nz
Locharburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2011
Locharburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2011 $26 This just hits Central Otago Pinot Gris on the button. Fresh pear and peach notes are edged with a creamy, almondy complexity, wet stone minerality and a burst of cleansing sweetness on the finish. A lovely example from this tiny, Cromwell-based producer. www.locharburnwines.co.nz
Bilancia Hawke’s Bay Reserve Pinot Gris 2008
Bilancia Hawke’s Bay Reserve Pinot Gris 2008 $34 Peach crumble, frangipane, tasty grilled pear and all sorts of good stuff on the nose lead the way to a deliciously rich, stone-fruit packed palate edged with spice and a hint of sweetness which is countered by clean, vibrant acidity. The alcohol is up there (14.5%) but … Read More
Pukeora Estate Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2010
Pukeora Estate Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2010 $15 Clean and minerally, with classic pear and quince characters on the nose and palate. I really like the texture and length in this gris, it’s juicy and buoyant in the mouth, and represents what I think is great value for money. www.pukeora.com
Tatty Bogler Central Otago Pinot Gris 2011
Tatty Bogler by Forrest Estate Central Otago Pinot Gris 2011 $25 Wow! Prepare for a burst of juicy white peach, nashi pear and coconut ice confection on the nose and an absolutely gorgeous splash of sweetness, clean, refreshing acidity and rich, mouthcoating magic on the palate. This is a superb example of the heights pinot … Read More
Neudorf Moutere Pinot Gris 2011
Neudorf Moutere Pinot Gris 2011 $30 I love the crushed seashell-like minerality which carries the classic white peach, nashi pear and quince characters across the palate. It’s a clean, juicy wine with a hint of japonica on the finish which lingers with a tasty, tangy texture. www.neudorf.co.nz
Waimea Nelson Pinot Gris 2011
Waimea Nelson Pinot Gris 2011 $19 Hallmark apple and pear characters on both the nose and palate makes this a reasonably pleasant pinot gris, however a hint of extra warmth sneaking through on the finish tends to dull the fruit.