Dry River
Martinborough Pinot Gris
Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand
The first of 4 from the 2018 vintage. One of the best new World Pinot Gris, if not the best. Over the last few days on the weekend I had a bad chest cold and lost much of my sense of taste but I could taste the palate intensity in this wine - brilliant concentration. Low acid. Pear, apricot and spice but mainly pear. Difficult to see this improving from the stellar level it is at now. I’ll probably drink the remaining 3 bottles in the next year or so. Had a 2nd bottle on 25th October 2024 with similar notes - becoming even more unctuous with notes of guava evident. Low acid. A lovely experience. Next in a year or less.?
The first of 4 from the 2018 vintage. One of the best new World Pinot Gris, if not the best. Over the last few days on the weekend I had a bad chest cold and lost much of my sense of taste but I could taste the palate intensity in this wine - brilliant concentration. Low acid. Pear, apricot and spice but mainly pear. Difficult to see this improving from the stellar level it is at now. I’ll probably drink the remaining 3 bottles in the next year or so. Had a 2nd bottle on 25th October 2024 with similar notes - becoming even more unctuous with notes of guava evident. Low acid. A lovely experience. Next in a year or less.?
Apr 8th, 2024Notes of pear with musk. The palate is lush and unctuous showing quince and peach. Again a lovely flavoursome white for winter. New Zealand do some non mainstream varieties like Pinot Gris and Chenin Blanc really well. Delicious is an overused descriptor with wine but this Is bloody delicious!!
Notes of pear with musk. The palate is lush and unctuous showing quince and peach. Again a lovely flavoursome white for winter. New Zealand do some non mainstream varieties like Pinot Gris and Chenin Blanc really well. Delicious is an overused descriptor with wine but this Is bloody delicious!!
Jun 18th, 2023Pardon the label. A humidity malfunction in one of my wine fridges. Luscious and sweet on the front palate yet finishes dry with diminishing acid and an attractive acidic bitterness on the back palate. Quince, nectarine, peach and apricot with that moreish bitterness. A beautifully made new world Pinot Gris which is dangerously moreish. I will now open an Alsatian Pinot Gris to compare. I’m tipping the Dry River to prevail.
Pardon the label. A humidity malfunction in one of my wine fridges. Luscious and sweet on the front palate yet finishes dry with diminishing acid and an attractive acidic bitterness on the back palate. Quince, nectarine, peach and apricot with that moreish bitterness. A beautifully made new world Pinot Gris which is dangerously moreish. I will now open an Alsatian Pinot Gris to compare. I’m tipping the Dry River to prevail.
May 1st, 2022Intoxicating aromas of apricot peach honey and nutty notes. An absolute mouthful of flavour of profound intensity also with a silky texture. This wine is irresistibly delicious and is #1 of 141 Pinot Gris tasted according to Bob Campbell MW, a New Zealand Master of Wine. I don’t drink a lot of Pinot Gris but after this gem from Martinborough I should rectify that and compare with some Alsatian versions.
Intoxicating aromas of apricot peach honey and nutty notes. An absolute mouthful of flavour of profound intensity also with a silky texture. This wine is irresistibly delicious and is #1 of 141 Pinot Gris tasted according to Bob Campbell MW, a New Zealand Master of Wine. I don’t drink a lot of Pinot Gris but after this gem from Martinborough I should rectify that and compare with some Alsatian versions.
Dec 18th, 2019Aromas of pear and honeysuckle and after a while Chrysanthemums. A delicious palate with pear flavours although sweeter than normal. Previous examples have had an attractive bitterness. There is no doubt that New Zealand produces some amazing White wines over and above their ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc.
Aromas of pear and honeysuckle and after a while Chrysanthemums. A delicious palate with pear flavours although sweeter than normal. Previous examples have had an attractive bitterness. There is no doubt that New Zealand produces some amazing White wines over and above their ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc.
Feb 1st, 2019
Rich and ripe- with Thai food at Blue Elephant, Auckland.
Rich and ripe- with Thai food at Blue Elephant, Auckland.
Oct 23rd, 2016A fascinating delicious wine. I'm not normally a Pinot Gris fan but this was a wow wine. Notes of Pear and Honeysuckle. Rich and luscious, full mouthfeel - some sweetness. Finishes dry with a trace of bitterness which is not a bad thing. Excellent.
A fascinating delicious wine. I'm not normally a Pinot Gris fan but this was a wow wine. Notes of Pear and Honeysuckle. Rich and luscious, full mouthfeel - some sweetness. Finishes dry with a trace of bitterness which is not a bad thing. Excellent.
Jan 17th, 2016
Light and fruity. Surprisingly Lengthy finish for a Pinot noir. Worth looking out for other vintages.
Light and fruity. Surprisingly Lengthy finish for a Pinot noir. Worth looking out for other vintages.
Sep 8th, 2018
Peak drinking 2006 vintage / impeccably cellared! Beautiful deep ruby. Earthy nose. Concentrated dark fruit. This is the Pinot noir not the Pinot Gris. I noticed that my companions’ said viognier. Idiot App
Peak drinking 2006 vintage / impeccably cellared! Beautiful deep ruby. Earthy nose. Concentrated dark fruit. This is the Pinot noir not the Pinot Gris. I noticed that my companions’ said viognier. Idiot App
Mar 14th, 2018Concentrated fruit. Almost light brown hue. Raisins sultanas
Concentrated fruit. Almost light brown hue. Raisins sultanas
Feb 6th, 2016