You could have knocked my over with a feather when I asked Bob & Rita Richter of Grey Sands the details of their Pinot Blanc plantings. 1800 vines planted in 2010! (and they’ve recently planted some more).
The Pinot Blanc clones (54 & 55) were directly imported from Colmar, in the way way east area of France. Whole bunch pressed with the juice put into old oak barrels, indigenous yeast fermentation, almost 12 months on lees and its gone through malolactic fermentation as well. The result of all this work is;
It is a fresh, aromatic wine. Nashi pears, a touch of citrus fruits and delicate honey blossom best describes the aromas I think and it is quite mouth-watering.
Goodness me, what a lovely wine to drink! It has a nice juicy palate. Those nashi pears appear again, there’s a lemon/lime influence and plenty of texture adding great fruit weight on the palate. The best I can describe the finish is complex. I found it dry-ish but fruit-full, crisp with deft touch of acid and it seemed to be layered and long. It did not last long in our home.
Region: Glengarry, Tasmania Price: $45 Source: Sample courtesy of Grey Sands
Words from a Wine Glass 