2004 Pinot Grigio

2004 Amethyst Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio, like most members of the Pinot family, is one of the earliest grapes to be harvested. There are two schools of thought with Pinot Grigio, either light and crisp or rich and dense. I based the picking decision on the rich and dense model. The vineyard is located in the Carneros region, and is planted with a Colmar clone selection on modern rootstock. Pinot Grigio is the most beautiful of wine grapes. It is small berried and small clustered and has an exquisite violet hue set off by a few berries which have been bleached golden by the sun.
While technique is generally of interest only to practitioners of the craft, in white wine making technique is of vital importance. Whole cluster pressing avoids problems with bitterness. Barrel fermentation in neutral older barrels gives both complex bouquet and mid palate sweetness. A partial malolactic adds further layers and aids in the wines longevity. Late or flavor stirring of the lees both richens and integrates the palate. The wine that has resulted is in many ways unlike any other domestic Pinot Grigio. The wine is light in color, but extravgently aromatic. The real beauty of this wine lies on the tongue. It has great length and finesse. Besides the expected fruit sweetness there is a fine grain of savory tannin that carries the flavors through. It is reasonably versatile at the table because of its structure. The most amazing single pairing that I have ever had with Pinot Grigio was a dish incorporating both foie gras and scallops. It is a very good wine to pair with richly flavored food.