Pale gold color, light for Pinot Gris. The aromas are ripe, almost heavy, featuring honeysuckle, a hint of rose, a hint of ginger. The palate is moderately rich, lacking the oiliness of much Alsace Pinot Gris, but far closer to that model than to anything from Italy, even Alto Adige. The texture does a great job of walking the line between opulence and freshness, with the ripe, almost sultry flavors bringing this down on the rich side. This is honeyed without being sweet, a fine New World rendering of an Old World classic. Rated 89, I don’t think it will evolve like a top Alsace version, but I’m in for a few more bottles to find out. IIRC, ~$15, excellent value.
Dan Kravitz