Pinot Blanc And Gris

Question 1

schloss

Answer 1

Fresh orange peel and mineral aromas mark this dry, zesty Pinot Blanc. It’s deeply concentrated, with juicy orange and lemon flavors and a lingering mineral, blossomy finish.

Question 2

analemma

Answer 2

by Sean Sullivan
Coming from 45-year old plantings, this warm-vintage wine is quite aromatically light for the variety, with notes of quinine, spice, pear and flowers. It drinks dry with a broad feel to the lightly spritzy fruit. Spice flavors are backed by a sense of acid balance that draws out the finish. This wine takes time to get going but proves worthy.

Question 3

elena walch

Answer 3

Kerin O’Keefe
This fragrant white opens with aromas of white spring flower, jasmine, citrus, pear and a hint of alpine herb. The vibrant, elegant palate delivers layers of creamy Granny Smith apple, nectarine zest and steely mineral balanced by bright acidity.

Question 4

Auxerrois Albert Mann

Answer 4

Domaine Albert Mann’s excellent 2011 Pinot Blanc ($18; Weygandt-Metzler Importing), with 60% auxerrois and 40% pinot blanc, showcases lovely flavors of white stone fruits, delicate herbs and sweet corn

Pinot Blanc is the least appreciated and understood member of the “pinot clan.” While serious winos around the world go ga-ga over the best pinot noirs from Burgundy, Oregon and New Zealand, and many everyday drinkers can’t get enough of pinot grigio no matter how good or bad it may be, pinot blanc sits in its own little backwater.

Pinot Blanc (also called pinot bianco in Italy and weissburgunder in Germanic countries) is less exuberant than its two relatives, offering discreet, refined aromas and flavors of white flowers, white stone fruits and beeswax. It frequently resembles unoaked chardonnay so it enjoys widespread palate appeal, but less concentrated versions are a little too delicate and neutral, so some producers choose to oak it in new oak barrels–a terrible idea, since pinot blanc’s delicate aromas and flavors are completely overwhelmed by the vanilla and toast notes brought by oak.

Alsatian versions aren’t always just pinot blanc. This is because producers in this region often blend pinot blanc with pinot auxerrois (or auxerrois, but beware: in France, malbec, a red grape, is also called auxerrois or cot). As pinot auxerrois offers less acidity, a richer texture and a slightly spicier quality than pinot blanc, many in Alsace believe the two varieties mix well together. Therefore, a wine labeled as pinot blanc can be either 100% pinot blanc, or, more often, a blend of the two varieties. Wines that are made entirely from pinot auxerrois are labeled accordingly. Good news for consumers: Alsace’s pinot blancs are relatively inexpensive compared to the region’s rieslings, gewürztraminers and pinot gris, and their freshness and medium body make them very food-friendly.

Question 5

teutonic

Answer 5

Home / Wine Shop / Pinot Gris
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2014 Pinot Gris

Crow Valley Vineyard, Willamette Valley
We love the fruit that comes from the 35 year-old vines at Crow Valley Vineyard. This Pinot Gris is crisp and refreshing with fine mineral flavors that the vines absorb from the deep established roots. Golden pale in color, red apple, lime and lemon zest on the nose. Tastes great now, but stock away a bottled or two and see how it evolves in a year or two.

11% Alcohol by volume

Question 6

domaine roland

Answer 6

Fresh and fruity, this is a classic Pinot Blanc, rounded, soft and ripe. It has just a touch of spiced pear along with red