Afternoon all,
 
I was away last week so apologies for the lack of Wine of the Week. I’m back with a vengeance though, with taste buds at charged to ‘mighty’!
 
Simon’s Wine of the Week is Riversdale Pinot Gris
 
It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Pinot Gris. One of my first Wines of the Week was Michel Leon’s Pinot Gris from Alsace, a wine that I go back to again and again.  But I’m always on the lookout for a new well-priced Gris; it’s a little obscure and when you do see a bottle it can get a wee bit pricey. So, I was more than pleasantly surprised when I cracked this a few weeks back and poured myself a glass (or two).
 
The grape Pinot Gris is exactly the same as Pinot Grigio, but it’s grown and made in a different way, and the resulting wine couldn’t be more different. Whilst Pinot Grigio is often very light and uncomplicated, Pinot Gris is much more full-bodied, richer and with more character. This richer style is achieved by leaving the grapes to ripen longer on the vine, and vinifying for more texture and flavour.
 

Most often associated with Alsace, Pinot Gris style wines have made their way around the cooler wine growing regions of the world, with Oregon and New Zealand making some of the best. Luckily for me they are getting more and more popular so hopefully we’ll be seeing more in the future.
 
What makes Pinot Gris really stand out for me though is how good it is with food. It’s one of the great food matching wines as it is so versatile; an absolute gem with shellfish (tried and tested with a homemade Spaghetti alle Vongole), it will pair with a roast chicken, salmon, pork tenderloin, as well as a well-made French onion soup.
 
And so, to the tasting note. The wine has a lovely, bright pale golden colour in the glass that positively dances in the evening sun. The nose explodes with aromas of lemon meringue, crème fraiche, lemon zest, pear drops, all overlayed with touches of honey and sweet spice. In the mouth it’s pretty intense with more lemon meringue and pear drop notes complimented by fleshy white peach, super bright lemon, and a delicious creamy textured finish. It really is rather good indeed.
 
Have a great week,
 
Simon