Here’s an odd one. It’s an orange wine, but Pinot Gris has reddish berries (as grapes are technically known). So, if you make an orange wine out of it, it looks like a rosé rather than most orange wines.
In the glass
Clear and bright. I’m going to call it pale. Yeah, I know, it looks more like a medium. But going by the WSET trick (can you read through it?) it’s pale. But now I’m going off-piste with colour descriptions. It doesn’t really fit any of the standard colours, which is a plus to me. I’m going with a sort of ‘apple skin’ shade. Perhaps a hint of ‘brick,’ if you aren’t comfortable thinking outside the box, colour-wise. TY suggests ‘Aperol-y,’ which also works, but again, isn’t a canonical colour. Live with it.
The nose
Something. Yes, definitely something. Hint of strawberry? Very ripe banana? Maybe even a hint of bubblegum? Although now I’m getting suspicious, as I’ve just replicated a stereotypical Beaujolais nose. So maybe I’m imagining it. Or maybe not.
The palate
Dry, medium body. It has almost a banana feel to it, but I don’t mention this to TY, or else she’ll think I’ve gone (even further) off the deep end. But you know that sensation of really ripe banana, mushy, almost liquid-y? I’m left with that sort of impression. I’m worried now how much I’m thinking about bananas. It’s very round in terms of mouthfeel, bananas aside. Perhaps some hints of strawberry. TY is back to her Aperol, very ripe orange thing.
It has a nice long finish. I see I have no notes on the tannins, so they must have been unobtrusive but doing their job. Same with the acidity – it’s not a crisp wine, but the acidity adds structure.
There’s a hint of butteriness on the palate as well. This, along with the Beaujolais aromas, makes me wonder quite how the wine was made. Couldn’t find much (aka, anything) on the Moorooduc website. But carbonic maceration would be one way to end up with the possibly-imagined aromas, and MLF would give you the hint of butteriness. Then again, it could be imagined.
Rating
Definitely a Yummy-plus on this one. It’s quite drinkable, but since we were doing the research at lunch-time, I persuaded myself to stop at half the bottle. The rest went with dinner the next evening.
Sustainability
The bottle says it’s a wild ferment. Can’t find much more than that.
Other stuff
Pinot Gris is another name for Pinot Grigio. The former is what is it is usually called in France and sometimes elsewhere. Pinot Grigio is the name used in Italy. Or, as I often explain it, Pinot Gris is what it is called when you do something interesting with Pinot Grigio.
The technical info and such
13.5% ABV. Pinot Gris. £23.99 from Cambridge Wine Merchants.