Afternoon all,
I was away last week Monday so there was no Wine of the Week I’m afraid.
Simon’s Wine of the Week is Joel Gott Pinot Gris
I tasted this absolute beauty last week at a very, very nice hotel celebrating our 10th anniversary. It really did not disappoint.
As some may know Pinot Gris is the same grape variety as Pinot Grigio, just grown and vinified in a different way, meaning the wine has more weight, more texture, more flavour, and a hint of spiciness. This extra oomph means it is one of my all-time favourite wines for food pairing. It is super versatile and will go with anything from roast chicken to smoked salmon, mussels to veal, pork tenderloin to quiche lorraine. It’s also unbelievably good with various Asian cuisines; I love it with sushi, but it pairs nicely with milder curries, or sweet and sour dishes. As it loves a bit of spice it also works well with Mexican food. Finally, if you fancy a white wine with a strong cheese, then crack a bottle of Pinot Gris. It really is that versatile.
The Joel Gott Pinot Gris hails from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, one of the great wine regions of the USA. Whilst California is much better known for wine (and produces the country’s lion’s share), Oregon punches well above its weight in terms of quality; the valley produces some of the best, and most expensive, Pinot Noir in the New World. Its Pinot Gris are easily their most successful white wines and are worth seeking out.
The wine really tickled my tastebuds, it’s the sort of wine I really like. Lots of lovely fruit on the nose but never over-the-top; there’s aromas of pear, peach, blossom, lemon meringue and just a touch of ginger spice. The palate is medium-bodied with good texture, more fruit with perhaps a little more tropical notes of pineapple and melon over the green and citrus flavours. The texture and the fruit are all in perfect balance to the crisp acidity, which cuts through the weight of the wine, and it is this balance that sets it apart. It all comes together with the long finish where the spicy notes marry perfectly with the ripe fruit. A true delight.
Have a great week all,
Simon
