90pts Vinous

The 2023 Pinot Gris Estate lifts from the glass with a mineral-tinged bouquet of young kiwi, dried flowers and wet stones. Juicy and fruit-forward, this impresses with its energy and cooling acidity. It leaves a tactile mineral sensation, finishing with medium length and hints of sour melon.

Tasting Notes

Pale yellow in color, the soft aromatics of blossom, lime-citrus and pear lend to a fresh and fruit-driven Pinot Gris. The palate is off-dry and the alcohol and body are in balance, providing ripe flavors of apple, yogurt, melon and wet stone. A new vintage is produced each year to retain the juicy natural flavors.

Drink this refreshing white wine as an aperitif or with diverse food pairings from salads to seafood, including salmon, shrimp, crab and chowder.

Winemaker Notes

The vision of this wine focuses on aromas and flavors of apple, pear and citrus that can age into honey and baking spice. This refreshing wine – dry and crisp with balancing, but not searing, acidity – finishes round and drinks easy. The grapes were picked at peak ripeness and the whole clusters were lightly pressed. The must was cold-settled and racked to stainless steel tanks where it was inoculated with a strain of yeast that promotes fruit-forward crispness and a rich mouthfeel. Fermentation lasted approximately five weeks at 55-60 degrees F. The wine was sur lee aged. 

Winery Notes

Founded in 1983 by Oregon native Jim Bernau with the dream of creating world-class Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown from a bold idea into one of the region’s leading wineries, earning the title “One of America’s Great Pinot Noir Producers” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Our approach is to grow, by hand, the highest quality fruit using careful canopy management and create wines that are truly expressive of the varietal and the place where they are grown.  Stewardship of the land is fundamental to our winemaking and all of the vineyards have been certified sustainable through LIVE and Salmon-Safe programs since 1997.  

Sustainable