River Crest Vintners Pinot Gris '07

Country: USA
Region: California

Thoughts: So this is the second that my wonderful brother- and sister-in-law sent as part of the ongoing Christmas gift. And again, the thanks flow from here to Idaho that you've added a bit to keep us going. This package arrived just this week; it went into the fridge yesterday and was ready for consumption this evening. (And, a small note on the pic: I know it's hard to see, but the pic was taken with my favorite coasters. All four have scenes I clipped from Golf Digest. So, with high temperatures scheduled for the low 20s later this week, I steel myself be chanting, over and over again, "Think spring. Think spring. Think golf." Rinse and repeat.) Anyway, the wine was a rather typical pinot grigio/pinot gris with a bit of a twist. The nose and initial taste were precisely what one would expect from such a grape: citrusy, fruity and all of that. The difference was that the taste, for me, inevitably started off sweet and finished dry. Like if I just gave it a few seconds on the tongue, it would turn dry; the finish started well before it went down the hatch though. Interesting. It gets a good grade because, well, I love PG.

Do-over? Why not?

Final Grade: B

Chateau St. Michelle Pinot Gris '07

Country: USA
Region: Washington

Thoughts: Yes, the wine joins an empty Gentleman Jack bottle - merely for effect. The nose on the wine (not the Gentleman Jack) was fruity and lush; the telltale citrus flavor was there, but so was a hint of pine needles - giving the fruitiness an unusual crispness. On the tongue, that lushness of fruit was still there, though it faded into the background a bit. Replacing it was a refreshing bit of honey. It mixed wonderfully with the citrus, which seemed to be closer to orange than anything. (And my deepest apologies for the gibberish that appeared last night, after I'd tried one too many wines.)

Do-over? Yes, I'd say so

Final Grade: B+

EDITED so that this entry sounds partially intelligible...

Martin Ray Pinot Gris '06

Country: USA
Region: California (Mendocino County)
Thoughts: Why yes, it is that time again - football season. The truth is, we'd planned on having some wine, as we typically do on a Sunday evening. But simply making it through the first day of training camp was cause for celebration (in case you haven't seen the news, there's this, then this, and finally this). Thankfully, Martin Ray came through with a spectacular finish to the day. The nose was fruity, as we'd expect from a pinot grigio/pinot gris, but this seemed bolder and more alive for some reason. I can't much put a finger on it, but it seemed enticing, moreso than others I've had. (Again, maybe that was the craziness of the day.) The taste was smooth and subtle; subdued seems too strong a word since the elements were apparent, but there was a quietness to the taste. It all came alive on the finish, light at first and then - beyond even my own expectation - the full burst of flavors I'd expected earlier. I thought maybe it was a one-sip thing, but the same phenomenon happened time and again, even as my glass neared emptiness. It sounds stupid even as I write it, but that's the best way I can describe it. It's easily the best wine I've had in over a month; it falls just short of the excellent Stags Leap.
Do-over? Absolutely; a great value
Final Grade: A

Cloudline Pinot Gris '05

Country: USA
Region: Oregon
Thoughts: During a stop-off at lunch on Tuesday, I had the chance to sample a new one at a nearby eatery (and thanks to the kind bartender who let me snap the pic). It had been entirely too long since I'd tried a wine from the fine state of Oregon; so when I saw a pinot gris on the list from there, I thought, what the hell. The nose was fruity, just what one would expect from a pinot gris/pinot grigio; nothing too unusual, though it was pretty mellow and inviting. It didn't prepare me for the first sip, when all I could do was think, 'whoa!' The flavors were loud and bold, coming through for someone with even a severe cold. Mellon, and especially cantaloupe, loudly announced its presence; even the dryness caught my attention. Yet it was all well-balanced and proportioned. Each of the flavors were kept in check by the others. The only criticism was a lack of a notable finish, which otherwise would've catapulted this one into the elite tier.
Do-over? WineSearcher.com says it doesn't come to D.C. retailers... balls! Otherwise, yes
Final Grade: A-

King Estate Pinot Gris '06

Country: USA
Region: Oregon
Thoughts: The King Estate wine had long been on my radar; I've seen it in several places where we shop for wine - Costco and Total Wine, mainly. Since my wife is from Oregon, I'd thought it would be worth a try on multiple occasions. And, to a degree, it was. The nose (and the taste as well) had a distinct mustiness to it, almost like you'd find in a scotch. That's not necessarily a bad smell; I'd just rather get it when I'm about to drink a glass of Glenlivet. Some fruitiness came through the nose, but it was a clear second fiddle to that alcohol-y smell. The taste was to my liking. There was a bit of fruitiness to it as well, but I found it to be understated and really lacking anything beyond what first hit my taste buds. So yeah, it was good enough. But it's hard to say it was anything above good.
Do-over? Eh, perhaps
Final Grade: B-

MacMurray Pinot Gris '05

Country: USA
Region: California
Thoughts: I'll refer a bit to the wine below; but hey, I put these in the order that I taste them - most recent first - so I am sorry if it requires a bit of backtracking to understand what I'm talking about. The nose on the MacMurray was only slightly (and I mean slightly) less fruity than the Black Mountain below. But this one did a far better job of delivering. The taste had much more to it; the dryness was a prominent player but remained in a supporting role. In the front was fruitiness, though picking out just what was there seemed well nigh impossible (of course, I could simply be out of practice; all of this moving in cuts down on wine tasting time). But I can assure you it was there. All in all, it rolled around the tongue nicely and hit the right spots, but I'm certain I'd want a little more fruitiness from my white pinots. Just a personal preference - but then again, this whole exercise is about personal preferences, ain't it?
Do-over? Not when there are wines better suited to my taste
Final Grade: C+

Sawtooth Pinot Gris '04

Country: USA
Region: Idaho
Thoughts: This wine gave me a chance to thank two of the most important fellow fellas in my life: my brother-in-law Mark (and his wife, Maya) who absolutely rock in a resort area in Idaho, which brings us to this wine. (Mark, notice I didn't say town, which would indicate Ketchum, which is not where you are.) It also displays my brand-new XBox 360, which was a gift from my pal Matt, who gains no knowledge whatsoever from this blog (it's cool dude, you still kick ass in my book). At any rate, the bouquet of this wine was quite intensely pinot grigio-ish, which by instinct gave me pause. (Like one of those 'if it's too good to be true, it probably is' moments.) Indeed, the wine did not live up to the colorful nose it gave off. The taste was moderately fruity, but the crispness/spiciness was too much. Calling it harsh would be overly critical, but that crispness prevented it from becoming an A-grade wine. (And, for the record, Sawtooth - located in Nampa - is a 190-mile drive from Ketchum, a large part of which I have actually driven.)
Do-over? When I want to represent for my brother-in-law, which I am happy to do
Final Grade: B

EDITED to note that originally, I incorrectly listed the varietal for this wine. The wine is actually a pinot gris; the headline and the label have been corrected as well.

A to Z Pinot Gris '06

Country: USA

Region: Willamette Valley, Ore.

Thoughts: This one came highly recommended from my in-laws and it didn't disappoint. The nose was sweet, an inviting fragrance. Each sip was smooth with no aftertaste, very mellow and very well done. I certainly hope I can get this back home.

Do-over? Yes

Final Grade: B

Big Fire Pinot Gris '06

Country: USA

Region: Willamette Valley, Ore.

Winemaker: R. Stuart & Co. Winery
Thoughts: Simply put, this wine is why I've started writing this blog. My wife and I had it for my birthday dinner a few years ago and it was this that sparked my curiosity in wine; its inclusion appears for posterity, since I'd made up my mind long ago about its quality. It has a very sweet, complex nose - like a strum, I wrote, with several components coming together in one harmonious whole. The first sip is sweet and smooth with more than a hint of oakiness (which later morphed into a bit of a honey taste). It jumped on the tip of my tongue, almost like it was carbonated. Thanks to the efforts of several, the wine did not last long; were it in my stead alone, it would have incurred the same fate.
Do-over? Absolutely
Final Grade: A-

Trinity Pinot Gris '05

Country: USA
Region: Willamette Valley, Ore.
Thoughts: Granted, this is only Wine No. 6, but this had the best nose of any of the six (and, really, among the best of any I can remember). It seemed quite spicy, though that simply could have been a leftover taste from the fine Super-Tuscan sandwich I had moments before. My sister-in-law, Maya, promised that we'd be left with a taste of honey after each sip - and she was right. But each sip was a delight too, something for every corner of the tongue. Or maybe it was just all some giant reaction from the sandwich.
Do-over? Yes
Final Grade: B+