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.