One bottle review: 2010 J Pinot Gris, California

In between two big wine events, on a night I had resolved to “take a breather”, I found myself heating up some leftover salmon and found my dinner….lacking.

I knew that I had a bottle of 2010 J Pinot Gris, California, in the door of my fridge.  I knew it was conveniently closed with a screw top.  I knew that, while my salmon was still steaming, I could retrieve said bottle, open and enjoy.

I gave in to my Wine God Bacchus and did just that.

Color – Clear, pale yellow, sparkling when swirled.

Aroma – Honey, pineapple, tropical fruit, kiwi.

Taste – Medium acidity, refreshing blend of lemon, pineapple, nut fruit, sweet pears and kiwi.  More than a mouthful?  Nope, it was lovely.

Finish – Medium length, 90 Eve pts.

Pairing – A little leftover Teriyaki-glazed salmon melded well with the acidity and fruit in the wine.

Conclusion – Yes, I would drink this wine again.

Disclosure: The bottle was sent, unsolicited, to me by the winery for review.

From Website:

J Pinot Gris, California

The J “California” Pinot Gris is a wonderful blend of 100% Pinot Gris fruit from Preston Vineyard and Saralee’s Slusser Road vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Also making up the blend are grapes from several vineyards located along the Salinas River near King City in Monterey County, as well as vineyards in the Sacramento River Delta area of Clarksburg.

The 2010 J “California” Pinot Gris has an enticing bouquet of tangerine and orange blossom. The crisp, clean mouthfeel is bursting with flavors of Margarita lime and Tahitian vanilla. A hint of honey on the palate complements the fruit and acid. The lingering finish invites you to relax and enjoy another taste. In fact, it is the perfect sipper when entertaining with friends. This layered and well-balanced wine is a great accompaniment to a variety of foods, from Asian and Mexican to Thai and Chinese cuisines, all accented with a variety of spices.

The vineyards

The 2010 J “California” Pinot Gris is a delicious blend of 100% Pinot Gris grapes harvested from several vineyards in the Sacramento River Delta area of Clarksburg and vineyards located along the Salinas River near King City in Monterey County. Rounding out the blend are grapes from Preston Vineyard and Saralee’s Slusser Road vineyards in the Russian River Valley.

Processing

Whole grape clusters were hand-harvested, and then pressed gently to minimize the extraction of harsh components from the skins and seeds. The wine from each appellation is broken into multiple lots and exposed to a variety of yeasts. The wine is fermented and cooled slowly in stainless steel tanks at 55 degrees to preserve the integrity of the fruit. There was no malolactic fermentation in this process.

Aging

After fermentation the lots are aged separately in stainless steel tanks. Once the wine lots have naturally settled and clarified, they are blended together. This allows the development of a range of aromatic and flavor components that ultimately meld to create a layered, complex wine.

Tasting Notes

The 2010 J “California” Pinot Gris has an enticing bouquet of tangerine and orange blossom. The crisp, clean mouthfeel is bursting with flavors of Margarita lime and Tahitian vanilla. A hint of honey on the palate complements the fruit and acid. The lingering finish invites you to relax and enjoy another taste. In fact, it is the perfect sipper when entertaining with friends. This layered and well-balanced wine is a great accompaniment to a variety of foods, from Asian and Mexican to Thai and Chinese cuisines, all accented with a variety of spices.

Appellation: Clarksburg 38%, Monterey 35%, RRV 27%

Harvest Date: August 30 – September 15, 2010

Wine Alcohol:14.0% by volume

Wine Acid:6.2 grams per liter

Wine pH:3.45

Residual Sugar:0.50%

Production:30,000 cases

Bottling Date: April 4, 2011

Release Date: May 2, 2011

2010 J Pinot Gris, California, 750ml

At Select Retailers

http://www.jwine.com/Wines/Varietal/Pinot%20Gris