Tasmania 13.5% Screwcap $26 Source: Sample
What do you get when a viticulturalist & a marketer get together to produce a range of wines? Well, hopefully you get a wine that contains good fruit and comes with a snappy label and campaign. There’s no questioning the quality of the grapes sourced from the Tamar Valley to make this Pinot Gris. I think the labels and marketing may polarise people.
Each wine in the ‘Calling Card’ range sports the name of a different woman, chosen to personify the wine’s attributes, and a number to text should you require further titillation (you’ll also get a slightly more risqué image and message sent straight to your phone). It’s all quite skanky, but sort of fun…like hanging out at the smutty end of Fortitude Valley in Brisbane where the peep shows are still in operation.
To the wine, which is rather good. There’s a cool climate freshness to the proceedings which works very well against the slightly viscous nature of the Gris. Poached pear, green apple, lemon drops and grapefruit form the basis of the bouquet and palate. It’s definitely not flabby; a crisp line of acid drives right through the more curvaceous silhouette, leaving a finish of penetrative, tart grapefruit and spice.
An enlivening wine for sure. The reply to my text message suggested a few different things of interest, though perhaps the most accurate statement Mistress Gris made about herself wasn’t overburdened by innuendo; “I’m a surprise package – you won’t believe what you find when you get me going!” To be honest, I was pretty sceptical when I opened the bottle. I ended up submitting to the wine’s charms fairly quickly.
I’ll be fascinated to see if the other ladies from the Saint & Sinner stable can follow the opening act.
Winery website- http://www.saintandsinner.com.au/