2010 Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Gris

“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.” …. Andre Simon

THE MENU

Grilled wild caught shrimp (marinated in a tomato puree sautéed to develop sweetness & blended with honey, white balsamic vinegar and chipotle pepper)

Soufflé of carrot & raisin

Sweet peas steamed in their pods in light butter sauce

THE WINE

2010 Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Gris

When matching wine to the food, it’s important also to consider the sauces used on the entre and how the wine will compete against and compliment them.   The marinade was a bit spicy, and I was worried it would bully the white wine.  In fact, the wine worked perfectly, cooling and refreshing; a perfect accompaniment to this quick and easy, light summer meal.

 

The color is almost translucent. Its nose offers slight pear and canned fruit cocktail. As its taste opens in the glass, you enjoy pear, almond, and vanilla.  It finishes crisply thanks to a good acid/fruit balance. It invites you to sit back, enjoy the summer weather and take another sip.

Pinot Gris is Oregon’s Pinot Grigio.   And The Eyrie Vineyard is an excellent representation of Oregon’s terroir and approach to winemaking.  Eyrie, in fact, produced the first North American Pinot Gris in 1970. Over the last five years or so, I have observed Oregon making consistently better wine from this grape and Italy going in the other direction.  Eyrie Vineyard’s Pinot Gris is Estate Grown in the Dundee Hills a beautiful area within the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The Willamette is a premier appellation and an excellent area for Pinot Noir too. Dundee Hills is an AVA (American Viticultural Area) within the Willamette AVA. This wine was awarded 93 points by Wine Enthusiast and proclaimed a ”Best Buy”.  At an average retail price of $15, it also earns the three-star WineMizer award for quality and value.       

No doubt you have had Pinot Grigio.  For an appreciation of the difference terroir makes, why not pick up a few different bottles of Oregon’s Pinot Gris to enjoy and compare?  Make sure to include The Eyrie Vineyard in the representation.

Cheers!

……………….. Jim