Wine Review: Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris
It’s crisp and clean, but also just a little dirty — and who doesn’t like it a little dirty?
Greetings, fellow fans of budget wines! I’m back with one of my favorite white wines, just in time for the end of summer: Say hello to Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris.
Wine Info:
- Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle
- Style/Varietal: Pinot Gris (White Wine)
- Vintage: 2017
- Region: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA
- 13.5% alc/vol
- Price: $9.99 at Trader Joe’s Wine Shop
Label Notes:
Our Pinot Gris is sourced from select sites in the world class vineyards of the Columbia Valley. With new world fruit intensity in an elegant old world style, this Pinot Gris offers lovely flavors of juicy pear and melon with a hint of spice.
Tasting Notes:
Nose:
Hints of Lemon Zest Pine-Sol.
Taste:
- Tingly on the tongue, like a gum with tiny crystals that are about to explode into BIG JUICY FLAVOR.
- And hoo boy that tingle don’t lie! There’s plenty of juicy fruit flavor hiding in this unassuming wine.
- I’m not sure which melon I’m supposed to be tasting but I’m going to bet it’s honeydew (that wily bastard).
- It’s reminiscent of a pear-flavored jellybean in the best possible way.
- Crisp finish, with notes of honeysuckle (whatever that is).
- Much like seawater, drinking it makes me thirsty for more.
- Also much like seawater, drinking a gallon of it will probably make you vomit.
Overall:
A damn-near perfect sub-$10 white wine (even if it’s only just under $10, and only before tax). It’s juicy, but not too sweet. It’s got some bite, but it doesn’t feel like you’re sucking on a grapefruit (I’m looking at you, Sauvignon Blanc). It’s crisp and clean, but also just a little dirty — and who doesn’t like it a little dirty?
Pair it with some salty cheeses or nothing at all.
Final Rating: 4.6 out of 5
What’s a “Pinot Gris” anyway?
Learn more about the gray-ish grape used to make this white wine on the Chris Tries to Review Wine Podcast. In episode #7 the multi-talented Ian Brodsky joins me for a lesson in this lesser known varietal!
Hear Ian’s tasting notes and more: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or stream the episode at christriestoreview.wine.
