91points
2019 Pinot Gris
Wine Score
91
This white spent seven months in stainless-steel tanks before aging partly in neutral oak and partly in stainless. Inviting aromas of fennel and honeysuckle highlight a dry, textured palate of lemon verbena, lime and peach.
Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
Description
Bouchaine’s 100-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley’s Carneros district, overlooking the San Francisco bay with the financial district in the distance. Fog, wind, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to our Pinot Gris.
Growing Season
The 2019 growing season will be remembered as a “Goldilocks” vintage. Not too cold, not too hot . . . but just right. Late rains in May had growers biting their nails as these storms can cause damage to vines that are flowering, leading to reduced crop loads. However, sunshine won that battle and the rains disappeared giving way to a long, consistent growing season throughout the summer. No major heat events appeared during harvest time which gave us beautiful ripening at an even pace. Juuuust right.
Vinification
Grapes are hand-harvested at night before whole clusters are lightly pressed to extract juice. This wine is fermented in neutral oak barrels, which are stirred monthly to incorporate the lees of acid depth and complexity.
Tasting Notes
We’ve all seen enough Superhero movies to know what a mutant is. DNA getting zapped in just the right way to make something amazing. That makes Pinot Gris a Superhero of wines since it is a mutation of Pinot Noir. However, when you drink Pinot Gris, you won’t have to worry about alien invasions and imminent threats. All you have to worry about is whether there’s enough to share. Pairs best with: pork chops and X-Men movies.
Tech Sheet
