2010 La Boheme Act Three Pinot Gris & Friends

I decided it was time to try something from my own back yard and this caught my eye in the fridge at the local. Pinot Gris and Friends being Riesling and Guwurztraminer, what an interesting little bottle of vino, how can one go past it? Being a lover of Pinot Gris/Grigio at the best of times I certainly couldn't.

Pale straw in colour and impeccably clear this has a wonderfully floral nose with hints of minerality. The palate has a wonderful texture with apple and pear that you would expect from this style. Clean crisp acidity and good length this is a refreshing and attractive wine. With only 6.0 g/L of residual sugar this still has a little fruit sweetness that is pleasant and doesn't highlight such a low residual sugar content.

Basically yum! Apples and Pears and good mouth feel with light acidity. If you like clean refreshing wine this is nice easy drinking but still complex enough not to be boring.

There is a mix of reviews across the De Bortoli website as well as a few that are selling this wine ranging from 88 through to 94 and from me a 9 out of 10.

Value for money wise this ranges online from $17 to the bottle shop at about $21 and at any price in there its worth what you are paying.  Its available directly from De Bortoli online as well as a few other online cellars but also readily in bottle shops around.

If you like Pinot Gris styles you'll like this one even though it's been messed with by adding in the other two aromatic varietals. Pleasant easy drinking that most people will love. Haven't tried a Pinot Gris? This one is a good place to start. Don't walk past that attractive bottle alsatian style bottle on the shelf, turn around, go back, pick it up and buy it. You won't regret it. Good luck and happy drinking!

Vinaceous 2009 Divine Light Verdelho

Ahhh Verdelho, normally my arch nemesis as too many wine makers persist to make a horribly sweet style that just loses any sort of goodness in the sweetness, but as in my previous post I will work through Vinaceous' range eventually as I do really like the whole concept. Now with this unfortunately my local retailer only has the 2009 Verdelho but until the 2010 becomes available this will do for me.

Wonderfully clear with pale lemon tinges this wine almost looks like water in the glass. Lovely lime and tropical nose with a distinct minerality that I'm not used to from a Verdelho. Clean and fresh palate that has slightly unbalance acid, zesty citrus and that minerality again. The finish is clean and short which is slightly disappointing but that acid leaves a sourness on the palate that does linger, best of all there isn't even a hint of sweetness to ruin the fruity goodness of this wine.

Basically it's not a sweet Verdelho, it is a really interesting clean crisp Verdelho with some interesting tropical fruit that you wouldn't necessarily expect.

A post on another site I have found says this vintage got 86 Parker points and I'd have to agree at a 8.5 losing points for balance and lack of fruit, saying that its still a very interesting wine and most reviews have been fairly positive, perhaps because most of the sites are trying to sell the wine who knows.

At $20 this is a good little experience, you can probably find it a little cheaper but you definitely not being ripped off, again I can't really find it online unless it's in the states which appears to be a big market for Vinaceous.

I'd have to say that this Verdelho has broadened my horizons and opened my eyes, I'll definitely be more open to trying this varietal in the future, well done and thank you Michael (Kegs) Kerrigan - Winemaker. Do you normally hate Verdelho? Yes? Go grab a bottle of Divine Light and give it a shot, I found it well worth it. Good luck and happy drinking

Vinaceous 2010 Sirenya Pinot Grigio

Ok for something different, this label just jumped out at me when I was at the bottle shop looking for a Pinot Gris or Grigio for as previously stated something different. Didn't end up as I'd hoped but I thought I'd share anyway.

Relatively closed nose to what I expected from what I'd read, spice and pear are in the background but nothing to write home about. The palate is dominated by racy acidity with chemical undertones, the finish is canned pear and bitter stone fruit which some may find enticing.

Basically all I get from this wine of notability is acidity and not quite what I expected from a Pinot Grigio. If you like highly acidic vino with a light fruit finish then maybe this is for you.

I can't really see any proper reviews or ratings but for me 6 is a push I'm tempted to say 5 but the concept, labelling and website get this wine points.

It's available at most good merchants and at $20 is not to much wasted if you enjoy it as little as I am. www.vinaceous.com.au is worth a visit and if you hit up the facebook page it looks as if they will give you an idea of where to purchase it.

In summary I expected more from this Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio and was a little let down. I'm seriously looking forward to trying the rest of this producer's range however as the concept I like, the winemaker I like and overall just cause 1 of the wines hasn't grabbed me doesn't mean the others are all bad too. Good luck with this one and happy drinking.