Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net
2009 Castle Rock Willamette Valley Pinot Gris
#nb-12-11
The first time I enjoyed a glass of Pinot Gris, I was told that the grape was a dryer cousin to Pinot Grigio. Well not exactly; here is the definition from Wikipedia:
“Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety...Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name (gris meaning "grey" in French) . The wines produced from this grape also vary in colour from a deep golden yellow to copper and even a light shade of pink. The clone of Pinot gris grown in Italy is known as Pinot grigio.”
Of course both of these grapes are grown in the United States, and the one I enjoyed most recently was the 2009 Castle Rock Pinot Gris from The Willamette Valley in Oregon. This Pinot Gris starts out with a subtle bouquet of flowers surrounded by ripe melon accents. The flavor is mindful of apples and peaches, with a hint of the melon presence in the background. This wine finishes strong with good balance between the fruit and acidity, and lingers on the palate with a crisp and dry aftertaste.
The "Wine and Spirits" magazine liked it enough to give it a 90, and commented, "Leesy, almost biscuity in aroma, this wine has ripe and round flavors and a broad middle palate, with just enough acidity to shore up those flavors. Serve as an aperitif."
We enjoyed the Castle Rock with a dinner of boiled shrimp, and it was excellent! I would recommend it with almost any seafood fare, and give it a score of 91.
Price: $10 to $14
Score: 91
Norm
Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http: //normwine.blogspot.com
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