WTN: The perfect American pinot gris

[Jenise]

I have finally found the utimate North American pinot gris/grigio. The there-could-be-no-better one. And I didn't expect it. All I wanted was a cold glass of white wine, and it was the only one standing by in the chiller.

It's from a producer I like and admire. I've had his pinot gris in numerous past vintages. They've nearly always been very good, though I found the torid-vintaged 03 a bit fat with too much RS. But this one, THIS one, is a big cut above. It is, simply, perfection. Beautiful, precise fruit with the kind of crystalline acidity that cuts facets in every direction. In my experience only the first bottle of 00 Blue Mountain Stripe label from BC's Okanagan Valley has ever shown this brilliantly--other bottles, waited on, were not as good. Timing's everything, eh?

Oh, which wine was it? No surprise to Doug Surplus: 2005 St. Innocent, Shea Vineyard.

I'm a Bergstrom man myself (although I haven't had it in a few years -tasting room only I'm told.) Bethel Heights (no surprise) also makes a great Pinot Gris. I've never had St. Innocents Shea Pinot Gris, but I've liked the Pinot Blancs that Mark makes just fine.

[Jenise]

I'm a Bergstrom man myself (although I haven't had it in a few years -tasting room only I'm told.) Bethel Heights (no surprise) also makes a great Pinot Gris. I've never had St. Innocents Shea Pinot Gris, but I've liked the Pinot Blancs that Mark makes just fine.

Don't disagree with you at all, Bill, I've had both and they've been very good to excellent. A Cristom stood above the crowd last year, too, and too a Washingtonian called Bunnell. But this was the first Oregon pinot gris that for me was truly and categorically outstanding.

I'm a Bergstrom man myself (although I haven't had it in a few years -tasting room only I'm told.) Bethel Heights (no surprise) also makes a great Pinot Gris. I've never had St. Innocents Shea Pinot Gris, but I've liked the Pinot Blancs that Mark makes just fine.

Don't disagree with you at all, Bill, I've had both and they've been very good to excellent. A Cristom stood above the crowd last year, too, and too a Washingtonian called Bunnell. But this was the first Oregon pinot gris that for me was truly and categorically outstanding.

Thanks for the tip, I shall pick one up. Those Weinbach Pinot Gris(ises ) are getting expensive.

[Jenise]

I'm a Bergstrom man myself (although I haven't had it in a few years -tasting room only I'm told.) Bethel Heights (no surprise) also makes a great Pinot Gris. I've never had St. Innocents Shea Pinot Gris, but I've liked the Pinot Blancs that Mark makes just fine.

Don't disagree with you at all, Bill, I've had both and they've been very good to excellent. A Cristom stood above the crowd last year, too, and too a Washingtonian called Bunnell. But this was the first Oregon pinot gris that for me was truly and categorically outstanding.

Thanks for the tip, I shall pick one up. Those Weinbach Pinot Gris(ises ) are getting expensive.

At $23ish, the St. Innocent won't save you a lot of sheckles over the Weinbach, but it'll give you a contrast. Hard to beat Austrian whites.

Unfortunately the Weinbach Cuvee Ste. Catherine is going for about $55 and the Cuvee Laurence is about $60. Alsace isn't cheap anymore

Hard to beat Austrian whites.

You're damn right about that! Krachers (God bless him) Illmitz Pinot Gris is about $13. And truth be told, I'll take just about any Austrian GV or Riesling over most of the world's best Pinot Gris. Wow, now you've got me thinking though. It would be fun to do a Pinot Gris/Grigio/Grauburgunder showdown. Hmmm... my money might be on Mario Schiopetto in Collio or one of the above mentioned Weinbachs. Z-H Rangen Pinot Gris is up there too (although you have to whisper zind-humbrecht around these parts .)

[David M. Bueker]

(although you have to whisper zind-humbrecht around these parts .)

Not if you're talking about Pinot Gris (and Gewurztraminer). Now their Rieslings are another story entirely, but I like what they do with the more aromatic varieties.

Bill wrote.........It would be fun to do a Pinot Gris/Grigio/Grauburgunder showdown.

Sounds like a great idea to me. We need to have a white wine subject down the road on Wine Focus. Next month is Malbec, how about March and then Bordeaux in April. Robin, are you around today??

An Open Mike would be the other way to go eh.

David, any thoughts?

Oh, which wine was it? No surprise to Doug Surplus: 2005 St. Innocent, Shea Vineyard.

I've shared this wine wth some friends, one of whom likes Pinot Gris/Grigio and one who is not much of a wine drinker. Both were blown away by this wine. The former because "there's more going on here than anything I've tasted before" and the former simply because he'd never tasted a wine so good.

My regret is that I only ordered 6 bottles and have already consumed 3.