Eyrie Estate Pinot Gris 2019
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This Pinot Gris presents concentrated aromatics of pear, citrus, and spring greens. The palate unfolds a spectrum of pome fruits and crushed fennel. The racy natural acidity is complemented by a texture that is round while still being dry and light. Refreshing, direct, with the focused acidity and lingering finish that define Eyrie Pinot Gris.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The tawny gold color belies the youth of this wine, and sure enough it’s moved ahead on the aging curve to where it is already in a prime drinking window. Full-bodied, chewy and tannic, it’s a potent wine with an assortment of herb, citrus and tree fruit elements all in a pleasing tangle. Drink through 2030. Editors’ Choice
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Pinot Gris The Eyrie is scented of warm apples, citrus and exotic spices. The palate is lovely, textural and intense, with delicate flavors that gain intensity on the long, juicy finish. There's always a special quality and unique character to this Eyrie Pinot Gris.
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James Suckling
A cheesy and briny nose to start, followed by sliced pears and white pepper. It’s medium-to full-bodied with tangy acidity. Lemon-pith notes on the finish. Drink now.
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Showing a unique rosy, purplish hue upon full ripeness, this “white” variety is actually born out of a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape boasts two versions of its name, as well as two generally distinct styles. In Italy, Pinot Grigio achieves most success in the mountainous regions of Trentino and Alto Adige as well as in the neighboring Friuli—all in Italy’s northeast. France's Alsace and Oregon's Willamette Valley produce some of the world's most well-regarded Pinot Gris wine. California produces both styles with success.
Where Does Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio Come From?
Pinot Gris is originally from France, and it is technically not a variety but a clone of Pinot Noir. In Italy it’s called Pinot Grigio (Italian for gray), and it is widely planted in northern and NE Italy. Pinot Gris is also grown around the globe, most notably in Oregon, California, and New Zealand. No matter where it’s made or what it’s called, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio produces many exciting styles.
Tasting Notes for Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a dry, white wine naturally low in acidity. Pinot Grigio wines showcase signature flavors and aromas of stone fruit, citrus, honeysuckle, pear and almond. Alsatian styles are refreshing, expressive, aromatic (think rose and honey), smooth, full-bodied and richly textured and sometimes relatively higher in alcohol compared to their Italian counterpart. As Pinot Grigio in Italy, the style is often light and charming. The focus here is usually to produce a crisp, refreshing, lighter style of wine. While there are regional differences of Pinot Grigio, the typical profile includes lemon, lime and subtle minerality.
Pinot Grigio Food Pairings
The viscosity of a typical Alsatian Pinot Gris allows it to fit in harmoniously with the region's rich foods like pork, charcuterie and foie gras. Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, with its citrusy freshness, works well as an aperitif wine or with seafood and subtle chicken dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Given the pinkish color of its berries and aromatic potential if cared for to fully ripen, the Pinot Grigio variety is actually one that is commonly used to make "orange wines." An orange wine is a white wine made in the red wine method, i.e. with fermentation on its skins. This process leads to a wine with more ephemeral aromas, complexity on the palate and a pleasant, light orange hue.
Home of the first Pinot noir vineyard of the Willamette Valley, planted by David Lett of Eyrie Vineyard in 1966, today the Dundee Hills AVA remains the most densely planted AVA in the valley (and state). To its north sits the Chehalem Valley and to its south, runs the Willamette River. Within the region’s 12,500 acres, about 1,700 are planted to vine on predominantly basalt-based, volcanic, Jory soil.