Printhie Orange Pinot Gris 2007

“Orange by name but wine is the game”

Orange is the region where this winery is located, there are no oranges in the wine. Orange has a higher elevation than the Hunter Valley (around 863 metres above sea level), and has often been referred to as New South Wales’ Adelaide Hills.

Its cooler climate lends itself to white varieties such as Sauvignon blanc and of course Pinot Gris. Rather than get into the debate over whether the grapes are Pinot gris or Pinot grigio lets just simplify. Pinot is the grape family, gris is French for Grey, and Grigio is Italian for Grey. If a wine is labelled Pinot Grigio then is it has been made in the Italian style which is lighter, crisper and dryer, where as Pinot Gris will have more fruity characters and a deeper tinge in the colour and more pronounced aromatics.

So here we have a Pinot gris (French style) which is more suited to the Orange region. Its fruity, fruity, fruity! Think fruit salad on the nose with lots of big stoned fruit dominating. The flavours are Peach, Apricot, Nashi pear, apple and toffee, and some nutty characters coming from some French oak. This is the hallmark of a good winery, and a winemaker that gives a damn – well done Robert Black. Many winemakers will choose to omit oak from the wine because it’s cheaper that way. We like the subtle touch of oak in this wine as it gives an extra dimension making it a really good match with Chicken in steamed figs.

Usually sells for around $18.00, I picked it up for $15.99 – Bargain! Perfect warm weather drink, don’t keep for more than 3 years as its best to enjoy the lovely fruit characters while they are young and vibrant.

Grant Burge Barossa Valley Reserve Shiraz 2008

“The Baron’s new stableboy – but what was he doing on my cruise?”

Grant Burge is known as one of the Barons of the Barossa, and for making some chunky long living wines.

This is a new wine to his stable and has been made for the wine society rather than the greater trade. Methinks it’s for this reason that it’s a little like a pretender rather than a contender for the title.

It smells of Barossa Shiraz – rich sweet plums and fruitcake which does follow onto the palate along with vanilla from the oak and some fennel and licorice. It has fine tannins but is a little short on the length. The fruit is sweet up front but is more of a promise of thinks to come than an avenue.

It’s a nice enough wine, but for the money there are some better wines around at the moment. Grant Burge is a great guy and should stick to making the big wines he is famous for rather than putting wines together for a price for a vendor, even one as benevolent as The Wine Society. In fact, we ran into Grant Burge aboard P&O’s Pacific Dawn 18 months ago. He was there promoting his wines by way of a tutored wine tasting. We joined in and sat next to the big guy and his lovely wife. We had our fill of some lovely wines, and the night before even purchased a bottle of his Holy trinity to go with our dinner. That is a great wine, a blend of Grenache Shiraz and Mourvedre, which the Barossa is famous for. We love it when you make these wines Grant. Please continue Sir.


Available exclusively through the wine society for $15.99