My favorite California wines tend to come from the Central Coast region of California… I was a huge proponent long before the movie Sideways catapulted the region and its signatory grape, Pinot Noir into the limelight. Today, though, I am writing about a grape that gets little press, especially in California – Pinot Gris.

For folks who read my little piece about wine clubs, this wine is one of the “remaining” wines that had gone un-tasted. Well, the Tangent is another really nice wine, only available via the Wall Street Journal, etc. wine club circuit.

Fuller on the palate than most Pinot Gris with a great acidic structure and refreshing character, this wine is noteworthy. For those who don’t know, Pinot Gris is the French name for, you guessed it, Pinot Grigio, a grape with the highest probability of producing insipid plonk as any grape on the planet. Well, this non-Italian offering is worth adding to the cellar. Served with pan-seared scallops in a lemon-butter reduction, the wine just sang…

Another plus – a screw closure, which adds a few years to the cellaring and makes opening a breeze.

At around $16.99 average retail per bottle, this wine is a very good value and worth buying…

My tasting note:

Lively, citrusy nose, pretty with light floral hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity – crisp – well balanced. Tart palate with lemon, pear and grapefruit notes. Moderate length – refreshing. Drinking well now – not for aging. Decent value!

Cheers!