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89POINTS
16¼/20
Blue Grouse Estate Pinot Gris 2019
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaPinot Gris gets a bad rap in BC and rightfully so for some of the toss-in-the-towel, fruit salad offerings we see, but it is possible to rise above the swamp and do something more interesting, and it starts with place and winemaking. At Blue Grouse, where some of the oldest pinot gris vines (34 years) in BC live, the story is different. Two southwest blocks facing south boast low yields. It is 100% organically farmed and mostly dry farmed. 2019 was hot and dry, with a cool period and some rain in early September that delayed maturity and allowed for full ripeness. 30 percent of the juice was pressed off and placed into one year old French oak barrels for fermentation, while the balance is fermented in stainless steel tanks. Both go through spontaneous and full malolactic fermentation, as evidenced by the rich, but not too rich, creamy mouthfeel. The nose is a mix of bright green apple and citrus with correctly measured flecks of butterscotch and vanilla. A full 30 percent of the wine spends three months in new oak with little effect on the whole. Try this with any favourite seafood, and even with lightly spiced items.Tasted: 29 August 2020Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml | winery online/direct, select private retailers |
Vintage West Wine Marketing
Grape: Pinot Gris/Pinot GrigioCSPC: 977330UPC: 626990423423
