Marlborough 13.5% Screwcap $25
This was recommended to me in a retail store and I thought “Why not?”. Well there are a few reasons I should have answered my own question. I personally don’t enjoy much NZ Pinot Gris. The Gris I like is generally Australian and I drink at around the two years of age mark… ie 2008 Mt Langi Cliff Edge or most vintages of Curly Flat’s Grigio (which I still consider a Gris, but whatever..). Also, $25 isn’t play money to me. Oh well, if this is the worst experience my sometimes whimsical nature brings I’ll live a good life.
Smells rich and Gris like. Ripe brown pear, lychees, bit of rose water, sweet quince tart, a stick of pink musk lolly and a dash of spice. Straight out of the fridge I thought it was quite good. Reasonable bright entry before viscosity enters the frame. Flavours as per nose. Acidity comes and goes a bit. The whole experience (flavour/texture/structure) reminded me a bit of pouring a glass of Sprite out of a bottle opened the night before. And the lemon notes at the start quickly become a touch sickly and more like lemonade. I liked it less and less as it warmed up and lost its zip.
Having said that, I know many Gris lovers who would enjoy drinking a few glasses of this. Not so sure they are the type of people who spend $25 on a bottle of wine regularly though. Who knows? In the end I wish I hadn’t. And I’m the one writing the note, so that’ll have to do.
Winery Website- http://www.astrolabewines.co.nz/