Tasting Room
Pinot Gris / Pinot GrigioWINE OF THE WEEK
La Crema
2006 Los Carneros - Pinot Gris ($20)
Ripe and round, clean and crisp. Aromas and flavors of apple, melon, pear, kiwi and grapefruit. A bit chardonnay-like. Medium complexity. Good mouth-feel.
2005 Reserve, Sonoma County - Pinot Gris ($15)
A dry pinot gris with a nice structure. Notes of peach, melon and orange marmalade. A pinot gris with depth.
2006 Columbia Valley - Pinot Gris ($15)
A pinot gris with limited appeal. Floral, with notes of lavender and kiwi. Uncomplicated. Medium-bodied.
2005 California - Pinot Gris ($14)
Good varietal presence. Nice notes of spicy pear and guava. Ripe and showy. Slightly sweet. Medium-bodied.
2006 Carneros - Pinot Gris ($24)
Ripe and opulent. Viognier-like. Floral, with notes of honeysuckle, pear and vanilla. Medium complexity. Fleshy.
2006 Russian River Valley - Pinot Grigio ($19)
A pinot grigio with limited appeal. Aromas and flavors of grapefruit, lime and kiwi. Yeasty, and slightly tart.
2005 Cienega Valley, California - Pinot Grigio ($20)
A pinot grigio with an old world character. Notes of mineral, peach and apricot. Good summer sipper.
2005 California - Pinot Grigio ($18)
Light on its feet. Bright and refreshing. Particularly lovely aromas and flavors of tangerine and orange blossom.
2006 Russian River Valley - Pinot Grigio ($24)
Bright, with a lot of intensity. Slightly lean but balanced. Medium complexity. Floral, with notes of peach and apricot.
2005 Willamette Valley - Pinot Gris ($19)
An Alsatian style. Good minerality. Notes of peach, melon and lemon. Medium complexity. Rich and ripe. Good length.
TASTING PANEL: Greg LaFollette, winemaker of Tandem; Steve Leveque, winemaker of Chalk Hill; Tom Capo, manager of the Wine Spectrum Bar & Shop; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com