A to Z Pinot Gris 2012

Tasting Date:  9/3/2013
Varietal:  Pinot Gris 2012
Country:  Oregon
Tasting Date Price:  $15.99
Rating:  WS 2011 88; WE 2011 87
Alcohol Content:  13%
Vineyard Website:  click here 
Visual Aspect:  Clear straw
Nose:  has intense aromatics of lime blossom, nectarine, tangerine, melon, wet stone and guava that build into aromatics of nutmeg, Bing cherries and kiwi.
Palate:  Light and refreshing, offering flavors of apple and green pear that finish with a touch of almond blossom.  The flavors on the mid-palate echo the aromas with a deeper not of honey. The wine moves seamlessly into a finish that goes on for some time before finishing crisply. The lasting impression of the wine is great purity and intensity balanced by wonderful juiciness and succulence.
Food Pairing:
Winery Notes:
The 2012 A to Z Pinot Gris is a blend using fruit from 26 different Oregon vineyards offering a “full orchestra” of flavors. Individual  components are fermented separately to enhance complexity and to highlight particular attributes for aromatics, flavors or textural qualities depending on the vineyard. Malolactic fermentation was intentionally blocked to retain freshness and purity of fruit.
The 2012 Oregon growing season was a return to normalcy after two wild, late years. The warm Rogue Valley and the Columbia Gorge fruit came in fast and furious toward the end of September. Harvest began in the Willamette Valley after a cooling period around the first week in October with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris showing perfect ripeness and low yields. Chardonnay came in last as picking finished before the end of October.
All in all, 2012 will be remembered as a classic Oregon vintage with great weather at harvest and low yields. The fruit was ripe, sound and vety healthy. Little sorting was needed and the flavors were intense.