Chateau Ste Michelle Pinot Gris - Falling between the lighter Italian Pinot Grigio style and the richer, rounder Pinot Gris from Alsace, this Pinot Gris offers fresh aromas and flavours of pear, fig and a hint of spice.
Château Ste. Michelle is the oldest winery in Washington state, with some of the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley, as well as control of an unrivalled proportion of that appellation's plantings. The varietal Columbia Valley wines offer a very consistent expression of the Washington style: with cooler nights yet longer sunshine hours than California, exuberant fruit is balanced by crisp natural acidity.
After picking, the Pinot Gris grapes went through a long, cool four-week fermentation in stainless steel tanks that enhanced the floral and citrus characters. A small percentage of the juice (less than 5%) was fermented in old French oak barrels for a slightly softer mouthfeel. The wine was bottled quickly after fermentation, preserving the freshness of this delicate variety.
|