2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris - Rainstorm Wines

Honeydew melon, daisies, white nectarine. Underripe mango, fresh cucumber, lemon peel. Pineapple core and green apple, sour grass and live garden herbs. Extraordinarily fresh with stainless steel zing and intense citrusy minerality. A lean, mean, refreshment machine. This 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris by Rainstorm Wines is a compelling example of Oregon's flagship white.

Oregon's Willamette Valley is known for its Pinot, but not just Pinot Noir. The gray skinned sibling Pinot Gris has also made a splash here with its ability to be crafted into complex and interesting white wine. This bottling, produced by Rainstorm Wines using fruit from two vineyards in the Willamette Valley, is a wonderful entry level Pinot Gris. It possesses the verve and vitality characteristic of the varietal with a focus on citrus and white stone fruit. A slight herbaceous edge adds complexity as white florals and petrichor further delight. Unpretentious yet sophisticated, this food friendly bottling beats the heck out of most Chardonnay in its price range. If you're looking for a fun and refreshing every day white perhaps it's time you gave Oregon Pinot Gris a try.