Left Coast Cellars is back on the blog! It was just this past March that I reviewed their 2014 Cali's Cuvee Pinot Noir and their 2015 The Orchard Pinot Gris. Well, a new vintage of that Pinot Gris is out so now I'll be reviewing their 2016 The Orchard Pinot Gris, and also in a few days their 2016 White Pinot Noir!
Left Coast Cellars of Willamette Valley, Oregon was founded in 2003. With 350 acres of land and 130 acres of vineyards, they use sustainable viticulture to produce only estate-grown wine. They're LIVE Certified Sustainable, Salmon Safe Certified, and are one of fourteen wineries to complete the Oregon Environmental Council's Carbon Reduction Challenge. All of the power for the guest cottages, the front gate, and the vineyard irrigation is run by solar power, and use a big chunk of their land for their Oak Savanna Restoration Project. They are very environmentally conscious.
The vineyard block that this Pinot Gris is from is called The Orchards because of the history of its land being planted with apple, pear and cherry orchards. It spans 7.5 acres and since 2005 it's been home to Pinot Gris Clones 146 and 152. The wine that is produced here is fermented 100% in stainless steel. It has an ABV of 13.7%.
So it's October now and I'm sad. Jalapeño season is over. I had six jalapeño plants this year and, man, it was awesome. I put those little fuckers on everything. Literally EVERYTHING. Sure, my stomach is probably happy they're gone but my taste buds are not. RIP, jalapeños. You are my heart. I will see you in the spring. Now let's cry into some wine!
The color of the wine is a pale yellow. The honeydew melon has taken over the nose in this vintage, where as it was more in the background behind apples in the 2015 vintage. There's also aromas of green peppers, orange blossom and walnuts. So the 2016 is very different on the nose than the 2015. On the palate it's full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and tamed acidity. There's flavors of honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and lemon lollipop. It finishes with lemon lollipop and a coating of sweetness.
The color of the wine is a pale yellow. The honeydew melon has taken over the nose in this vintage, where as it was more in the background behind apples in the 2015 vintage. There's also aromas of green peppers, orange blossom and walnuts. So the 2016 is very different on the nose than the 2015. On the palate it's full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and tamed acidity. There's flavors of honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and lemon lollipop. It finishes with lemon lollipop and a coating of sweetness.
The 2016 is much more laid back, less tart, and more sweet than the 2015. It doesn't have the personality that the 2015 did. Yet, it's still good and you won't be disappointed that you dropped $18 for it.
QUALITY VS PRICE RATING
Price: $18
Rating: 3/5 = Satisfying (what does that mean?)
The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
Reviews for wine is always good. This is because wine is so expensive and you dont want to be buying the wrong stuff. You need to make your decision with some guidance
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