Off-dry, this succulent wine has you smacking your lips rather than puckering them. The natural acidity buoys up the sweet fruit, a mix of peach and apricot principally, and the wine has an excellent focused core that trails off into suggestions of honeycomb and lemon custard.
— P.G.
(6/1/2012)
Girardet farms its vineyards organically, does not irrigate, and ferments this wine in stainless steel. The result is a solidly made Pinot Gris, offering lush scents and tastes of ripe pear. Good texture and balance keep it from feeling one dimensional; puts the fruit front and center.
— P.G.
(11/15/2007)
The residual sugar is 2.7%, while the alcohol is 11.5%, which puts this squarely in the spätlese camp. It has a lively and juicy core, mixing its array of citrus fruits with tangerine and some lighter intimations of stone. The finish is crisply defined with citrus rind.
— P.G.
(10/1/2009)
Chocolate and plum mingle enticingly in this medium-bodied offering from the warm (relative to Willamette) Umpqua Valley. Subtle herb notes and a peppery, crisp finish keep this wine interesting from start to finish.
— J.C.
(12/1/2000)
Ripe, premium fruit and fairly high alcohol levels define this wine. A hot year and ripe fruit combine to create complexity in the nose, with an interesting mix of spices (cardamom, clove), lots of tannin, some darker fruit, and hints of smoke and earth. The only down side: it lacks weight and it finishes very tannic.
— P.G.
(8/1/2002)
A lot of shale in the soils adds interest to this elegant, light, fairly soft wine. Off-dry and balanced, it represents good value. Flavors of apples, pears and blossoms lead; a soft finish with a hint of caramel wraps it up.
— P.G.
(8/1/2002)
Strong scents of hay and grass; it’s a bit like old-vine Zin but with more grapey fruit flavors. Grapey, slightly foxy, there is also some loganberry fruit, lots of acid and a good long finish.
— P.G.
(8/1/2002)
The winery feels that this is their best Pinot Noir, and prices it accordingly. Concentrated and balanced, it shows some grassy flavors along with the sweet fruit. Very tannic. Just one barrel—20 cases—was made.
— P.G.
(8/1/2002)