Pinot grigio is one of those wines that some people love and other love to hate. But it’s also a wine that comes to life in a couple different styles. So I think wine lovers who think they don’t like pinot grigio may have just not tried the right one yet.
I generally like pinot grigio that is bone dry and focused on citrus and mineral qualities. But some pinot grigio offers a lot more complexity and more stone fruit or tropical fruit characteristics. This is one of those wines.
Geyser Peak is a pretty big producer, based in Sonoma County, California. They’re best known for their wine production from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma. But the appellation for this particular wine is just “California.” Meaning the grapes are likely from a few different vineyards in different appellations.
A harmonious bouquet of orange blossom, apple, nectarine and melon aromatics give this wine a very pleasant nose. It has a touch of tropical too, which might make you think it’s a sauvignon blanc at first sniff. The palate is very well balanced and offers apple, nectarine and melon flavors with just enough acidity to brighten it up. The finish is medium-long with citrus, apple and mineral flavors.
This is an easy wine to find, reasonably priced and it delivers a lot of flavor compared to most cheap pinot grigio. In short, it’s a killer wine.
Wine: Geyser Peak
Variety: Pinot grigio
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 90
Price: $12.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
I’m generally a big fan of Pinot Grigio. I know I’ve seen this one but I don’t think I’ve tried it yet. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the comment, Andrea. If you’re a pinot grigio fan, I’ll bet you’ll love this one. Cheers!
Can’t find Geyser Peak, 2012 or 2014 Pino Grigio anywhere around , i.e. Total Wine, Bev Mo, Vons, Ralphs, etc. Where is it. Do I have to order it from the Winery????I need the more fruity less acid that this is described to be. Help
Hi Barbara. That is interesting that you can’t find it. In general, Geyser Peak produces quite a bit of this wine and have broad distribution in the US, so I’m surprised you’re not finding it. I wouldn’t expect you’d need to get it directly from the winery.