04/07/06 New Favorite Wine

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and as many of you know, my new favorite wine is usually the wine that is in my glass at the time. I just don't waste my time drinking wine that I am not enjoying. BREAK Recently I found a bargain. I love Pinot Gris and I am always looking for one that is new to me. Although this wine has been out there for a while, I had not tried it. It was a 2004 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris. The grapes are grown in vineyards that are in cooler growing sites in the Yakima Valley of Washington state. A very small portion of the wine was fermented in oak with the remainder spending its fermentation in stainless steel. There is also a touch of Viognier (three percent) which to me was not really noticeable. The wine has a good bit of ripe fruit flavor balanced by crisp acidity, making it totally quaffable and pleasing. I was impressed. It was lovely with a grilled salmon salad that I had on one occasion and with a chicken breast on another and a bowl of black eyed pea soup on yet another! It is under $10 a bottle and a gem if you are looking for a very good value! Now the 2005 has been released but I haven't tasted it yet. It is supposed to have more viognier and more of the blend having spent time fermenting in barrel. Hmmm & that should be interesting. I for one am looking forward to it. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.