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Tastings: July 2025
01 July 2025
88PTS
JoieFarm Pinot Gris Pacific Northwest Edition 2024
Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Pacific Northwest Edition label is how JoieFarm chose to differentiate their Crafted in BC (CIBC) wines from the 2024 vintage. This gris came from Coventry Vale in Washington State's Wahluke Slope, and was fermented and rested for a short time in stainless. Juicy pear, orchard apples is lit with a citrus acidity that streams this through a grapefruit laced finish. Fresh and friendly, and ready to crack into this summer.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mayhem Anarchy Pinot Gris Columbia River Plateau 2024
Ancient Lakes, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesExpect a clean and fresh style of gris with medium intensity. Green apples and nectarines characterize the aroma and initial flavours, along with grapefruit and lemon, leading to a crisp finish. This wine pairs excellently with oysters, delicate chicken dishes, or winery selections such as grilled vegetables or goat cheese. The grapes were sourced from Ancient Lakes Vineyard within the Ancient Lakes AVA in Washington State, USA. The wine underwent aging for seven months using a combination of ceramic balls (39%), stainless steel (47%), and neutral French oak puncheons (14%). Production was limited to only 166 cases.Prices:| BC | $26.18 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Privato Vineyard and Winery Washington Series Pinot Gris Limited Edition 2024
Washington, United StatesClean, fresh, soft, and fruity characteristics characterize many of the Washington State pinot gris I am observing this year, replacing the 2024 harvest in BC that did not occur. The Privato Washington Series exhibits these qualities, along with additional notes of peach and pear, complemented by hints of honey and flint. The palate is similar, with increased minerality and a dry, lime-like acidity in the finish. This wine pairs well with goat cheese or clams.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Kacaba Jennifer's Pinot Gris 2023
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaRipe pear, yellow apple, and stony spices lead this snappy, dry gris, finishing with a bitter tangerine twist. A crisp, easy, and simple wine to crack into now.Prices:| ON | $24.15 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Poplar Grove Pinot Gris Cascadia Series 2024
Washington, United StatesSourced from grapes in Washington state, this is a blend of 92% pinot gris, 3% viognier, 2% sauvignon Blanc, 1.5% chardonnay, and 1.5% muscat. On the nose, pear, very ripe grapefruit, honeydew melon, hints of mango and passionfruit lead. Great, slightly spicy, pinot gris character in abundance here. The tropical flavours take lead on the palate along with honey and lots of pear. Fleet and balanced, with a slightly soft acidity that emphasizes the lush rounded fruit notes. There's a complementary light, grassy back current in the long finish.Prices:| BC | $23.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tantalus Pinot Gris Stoneridge Vineyard Oregon 2024
Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesThe grapes were sourced from Stoneridge Vineyard, an own rooted organic site planted in 1985 in the northern part of the Willamette Valley, within the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The juice was transported overnight to Tantalus' East Kelowna cellar and fermented using seven pinot gris yeasts. It rested on the lees for three months in a combination of neutral wood and stainless tanks and underwent partial malolactic fermentation. This opens with light notes of apple, lemon, and pear that follow through on the flavours. Precise, focused cool climate fruit is the key here, straddling the line between apple and pear, while adding a hint of lemon citrus. Pure flavours and an impeccably balanced finish.Prices:| BC | $20.87 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blasted Church Pinot Gris Grown in Washington State 2024
Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe grapes were sourced from the certified sustainable Andrews Family Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The soils in the pinot gris block are silty-loam over top of fractured basalt, and are similar to the soils in the Blasted Church home vineyard. After a two hour cold soak, the juice was pressed into the tank and trucked to the winery's Skaha Lake cellar for fermentation. The restrained aroma doesn't quite prepare you for the transparent suite of following flavours: rounded notes of melon, honey, bruléed pear, dried apricot, and a drift of sweet spiciness. Definitely on the Alsace end of the pinot gris scale, the elemental flavours here are smooth, harmonious, and beautifully balanced.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mayhem Pinot Gris Columbia River Plateau 2024
Ancient Lakes, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThis replacement gris originates from the Ancient Lakes Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA of Washington State. It underwent a long fermentation in stainless steel, followed by a four month aging process that consisted of 81% stainless steel and 19% seasoned puncheons under the direction of winemaker Ajay Chavan. The nose presents an appealing and flavourful leesy character, reminiscent more of French chardonnay than Washington pinot gris. The initial taste is dry, featuring notes of citrus and peach. It continues with crisp, green apple, complemented by additional notes of toast, lees, and citrus. This wine is ready for immediate enjoyment and pairs with grilled chicken or creamy pasta dishes. The winery's suggested pairing features grilled peaches with burrata and a drizzle of honey. Good value.Prices:| BC | $21.83 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Santa Julia Reserva Pinot Grigio 2023
Mendoza, ArgentinaThis Argentinian pinot grigio is similar to the BC style, offering intense, focused flavours with a fresh mineral finish. Its bright lemon finish is dry, with a hint of sea salt. Pair it with dishes that benefit from a squeeze of lemon, such as oysters or deep fried seafood. It's a good value.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bogle Vineyards Elemental Pinot Grigio 2023
California, United StatesElement[AL] Wines are the first of its kind wine brand delivered in 750ml aluminum wine bottles, 80% lighter than its glass competitors. The container, shaped like a standard bottle, is 100% recyclable. Made of aluminum, it requires only 5% of the original energy to recycle and is valuable to local collection agencies for recycling. American pinot grigio will never surprise, but it is always enjoyable: soft, round, fruity, and clean with enough acidity to keep you interested. It's a perfect summer patio wine that can go places glass bottles cannot.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Free Form Pinot Gris Organic 2020
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis organic pinot gris, blended from 50% juice and 50% whole cluster fruit grown around Haywire Winery, is native fermented in amphora, where it remained on skins and lees for 9 months. There is no pressing. It opens with a lightly aged nose and flavours of peaches, earth, and apricots. The texture is at its best, rich and smooth, with a peach skin finish. Time to drink up.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quails' Gate Field and Flight Pinot Gris Farmed in California 2024
United StatesThe Field & Flight wines are a Quails' Gate adventure into uncharted territories. The Pinot Gris is farmed in California and Washington and finished in Kelowna. The result is a soft floral rose and honey nose that spills onto and into a tropical fruit palate featuring pineapples and peaches. The finish is fresh, dry, and clean.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Gris Washington 2024
Made in Canada from Imported and Domestic Ingredients, CanadaSimilar to the previous Canadian version, the See Ya Later Gris presents a soft and rounded profile, with a bouquet of orchard fruit salad. The palate offers ripe fruit complemented by a subtle hint of residual sweetness at the finish. This wine pairs well with spicy appetizers, such as spicy tuna sushi rolls or spicy wings. It is ready for immediate consumption, and its pricing is more than reasonable.Prices:| BC | $17.25 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Roche Artist Series Pinot Gris 2024
Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesPenelope and Dylan Roche are terroirists, and so I'm not surprised that The Collaboration Pinot Gris is a well made, delicious white wine. It is farmed in the Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and produced in Naramata, British Columbia. This stainless fermented wine opens with a bright, orchard fruit attack, a creamy mineral undercarriage, and a juicy finish. One of the best replacement gris I have tasted in 2024.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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