Two intriguing, great value wines from Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. The J Vineyards pinot gris, full of varietally-correct citrus, pear, and pineapple notes, a nice mineral component, and a little fuller and richer on the palate than a typical grigio from Italy, certainly. At $20, it’s an ideal companion for your seafood pasta or to sip on as you whistle and work. The vin gris, also $20, is made in the seigneur method, allowing pinot noir skins to sit on the juice for just a little while, leaving a delightful light pink hue, and some seriously delectable flavours, bursting with barely-ripe cherries, some rose petal, and a bracing acidity to bring it all together. Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse likes this with a spinach salad.
