While Pinot Gris comes from France, it’s found a new home in Oregon, and these five Oregon Pinot Gris can show how well it is adopted here.
Lately, we find lots of similarities with some of the best examples of Italian Pinot Grigio, the hallmark of the varietal. With that in mind, while Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are considered the flagship wines of Oregon and Willamette Valley, in particular, we think Pinot Gris should be among them.
Archery Summit Pinot Gris 2019
We still remember tasting the inaugural vintage of Archery Summit Pinot Gris in their underground cellar. We were impressed from the first sip, which has kept impressing us ever since.
The creamy orange and lemon rind aromas evolve into a pear and lemon candy on the palate with a pear nectar finish.
Archery Summit Pinot Gris 2021
That’s why it was fun to compare it to the 2021 vintage. The riper vintage is reflected in peach, passion fruit, fresh-cut grass, and mineral aromas. The flavors combine lemony peach, apricot, and peach skin.
As much as we liked the previous wine, we favored the 2021 vintage by far.
Cooper Mountain Pinot Gris 2021
We sensed pear, white flowers, and limestone minerality on the nose and palate.
Cooper Mountain Pinot Gris was a perfect pairing for our meal in one of the Lincoln City restaurants: not too sweet and not too dry, yet crisp and balanced. We tried it with fried calamari.
King Estate Pinot Gris 2021
King Estate Pinot Gris starts on the nose with aromas of ripe pear, lime zest, peach, honeysuckle, and lemon blossom and continues with a round on the palate of ripe fruit flavors of Asian pear, key lime, and nectarine accompanied by jasmine and damp slate. The bright acidity carries through to a fresh, balanced, lingering finish.
Willamette Vallery Pinot Gris 2021
Willamette Valley Pinot Gris was among the lowest-priced wines on the list, and we had tempered expectations. Opening with tropical aromas of mango, citrus, and white blossoms, it develops into guava, orange cream, and meringue flavors with a refreshing finish.
If you are a fan of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio we would love to hear your thoughts on Oregon Pinot Gris?
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