Acrobat Pinot Gris 2010

Acrobat Pinot Gris 2010

Origin: Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of peaches, apricots, and other tree fruits with significant tropical fruit notes. Very fruity on the palate, the flavors tend towards a blend of citrus and tropical. The finish has a very slight chalk-light minerality.

Our rating: This wine has a summer feel to it, one to be enjoyed as is on the deck. It would also pair well with barbecued grilled meats, which coincidentally is how we enjoyed our bottle, with spicy BBQ chicken. Though there is a nice blend of fruit flavors, there isn't much more in terms of complexity to this wine. We rate it about Average overall, but also think it's a bit overpriced for what it is, basically a fun summertime wine.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Color: Pale straw with golden highlights. Nose: Fresh pear, citrus, honeydew melon. Flavors: Mandarin orange, lemon, kiwi, pear, spice. Mouthfeel: Round entry with nice balance between acidity and residual sugar, clean refreshing finish.

Winery website: King's Estate, Oregon Wines.

Kudos Pinot Gris 2009

Kudos Pinot Gris 2009
Origin: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of apple and peach with notes of flowers. The fruit flavors on the palate initially tend towards the sweet, almost tropical in character. A mild acidity develops into the finish, which is long though without much depth.

Our rating: We rather liked this wine and were somewhat surprised by it. The off-dry character would pair well with many Asian cuisines, which is how we wished we'd paired it. (We served it with a pasta dish, not the best choice in retrospect.) We rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Helfrich "Noble Varieties" Pinot Gris 2008

Helfrich "Noble Varieties" Pinot Gris 2008
Origin: Alsace, France
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2010
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

Our review: Ripe apple, honey, and orange blossom aromas are exhibited by this light amber-colored wine. The fruit flavors (pineapple, melon, other tropical fruit) on the palate are smooth rather sweet, though a bit of complementing tartness develops into the finish, which is relatively brief but pleasing.

Our rating: This is a bold, aromatic wine, one that has a dominant, though well-balanced, tropical fruit character. We were a little surprised at first (expecting something a little -- OK, a lot -- less assertive), but by the time we poured the last glass, were enjoying it quite a bit. We mispaired it slightly, serving it with a meal of chicken and rice; we think it would do better with certain Asian cuisines, and even some north African dishes. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This wine starts rich and full with a round and opulent mouth. There are flavors of soft generous tree fruits such as apple, fig, peaches that linger with a silky yet refreshing finish. "

Winery website: None found.

Coopers Creek Pinot Gris 2008

Coopers Creek Pinot Gris 2008
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: March 2010
Purchase Price: $13.99

Our review: Straw in color with tropical aromas of papaya and pineapple with pleasing floral notes. A similar flavor profile initially presents itself on the palate but a somewhat unbalanced acidity develops, not unpleasant but unexpected and incongruous. The finish is shallow and without much character.

Our rating: We were slightly disappointed in this wine. It is, by no means, a poorly made wine but our expectations were much higher given its origin and, to a lesser extent, its price. Probably best paired with simply prepared seafood or a fresh spinach salad, which is how we enjoyed our bottle. It scores reasonably well, though, on the high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Very pale in its youth, but we know from experience that New Zealand Pinot Gris will develop onion skins tints with age. Bouquet: Subtle, yet exotic. The nose shows delicate earthy undertones that typify both the variety and our soils in Huapai. Coupled with this are lovely spice notes. Palate: Medium in body, with an exceptional balance between fruit sweetness and acidity. The finish is long, spicy and textural."

Winery website: Coopers Creek.

Castle Rock Pinot Gris 2008

Castle Rock Pinot Gris 2008
Origin: Monterey County, California
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: March 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Medium gold in color with aromas of green apple and spice, this medium-bodied wine exhibits a slightly sweet but well-rounded fruit flavor profile on the palate with nicely balanced acidity. The finish has considerable length and depth, almost as if it were cellared in oak for some period (though there is no indication this was the case).

Our rating: This is a somewhat surprisingly rich wine that should pair well with most poultry, fish, or even pork dishes. We served our bottle with roasted turkey and potatoes, a fine choice. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Crisp and light with good texture and acidity, offering delicate flavors of citrus, peach and apple."

Winery website: Castle Rock Winery.

Ponzi Pinot Gris 2008

Ponzi Pinot Gris 2008
Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.1%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2010
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: Light golden straw, this wine has aromas of freshly cut apple, herbs, with slight tree fruit floral notes. Crisp and edgy on the palate, the fruit flavors quickly smooth out, developing a bit in character. A mineral slateness appears in the moderately long finish.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this varietal from Oregon. Likely to be very food friendly, we served our bottle with Asian cuisine, though it would pair very well with grilled chicken or fish. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Ponzi Vineyards.

Acrobat Pinot Gris 2008

Acrobat Pinot Gris 2008
Origin: Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Nearly colorless with shades of gold and silver, this wine has an aroma of citrus and citrus blossoms. Nicely balanced on the palate, there is a very slight sweetness to the fruit flavors, which tend to be more tropical in character. The finish is long and very pleasing.

Our rating: We enjoyed this wine. We served our bottle with pork medallions, which seemed to bring out some of the wine's more subtle characteristics. A good food-friendly wine, consider pairing it with a wide variety of cuisines, especially Asian. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Color: Very pale straw with golden highlights. Nose: Green apple, grapefruit, lime zest, and pear. Flavors: Tangerine, lemon, kiwi, pineapple. Mouthfeel: Crisp entry with nice balance between acidity and residual sugar, round and full mid-palate, clean refreshing finish."

Winery website: King Estate Oregon Wines.

Firesteed Pinot Gris 2007

Firesteed Pinot Gris 2007
Origin: Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.4%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: June 2009
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: Silver-gold in color with green tints, this wine exhibits a strong fragrance of green apple with citrus notes. Initially there's a sweet sensation on the palate but this is quickly replaced with tart, though well-balanced, fruit flavors. The finish is clean with a touch of spice, but otherwise relatively brief.

Our rating: This pleasant wine has an old-world style to it. Complex but not intimidating. We enjoyed it and suggest you set aside a bottle for that special Italian meal you've been planning. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Generously aromatic combination of Northwest coastal breezes and definitive orange-blossom, rose water and ripe peaches. Accents of the perfect perfume of gardenias and sweet spices. Richly textured and flavorful, the wine delivers weight on the palate that is nicely balanced by citrus notes and fresh acidity."

Winery website: Firesteed Wines.

Lurton Pinot Gris 2007

Wine: Lurton Pinot Gris 2007
Origin: Valle de Eco, Argentina
Blend: 100% Pinot Gris
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $7.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: None found.

ABC Wines review: This wine has aromas of tropical fruit and honey with some very pleasing spice notes. The palate has a brisk acidity that seems to mask the fruit flavors. The finish is quite astringent and though the fruit flavors increase in intensity here they taper off into something that is bitter and unbalanced. Our score: Not a bad wine by any means but somewhat disappointing nonetheless. Just Average.

Winery website: Jacques & Francois Lurton.