Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Gris 2010

Brilliant platinum blonde color and clean, true aromas of melon, ginger-spiced pear and apple blossom exemplify purity. Upon a sip, aromas expand into vibrant flavors, bright and youthful, with a delicate touch of floral perfume and almonds. The wine snaps with citrus-like crispness rarely seen in a New World white, contrasted with a richness that makes for one satisfyingly mouth-watering wine. It is ready for the table now, and will surprise when resurrected from the cellar several years down the road.

A night harvest helps make fresh, bright wines with crisp acidity. Harvesting Pinot Gris ahead of sunrise reduces the risk of splitting, spoilage, oxidation and premature fermentation as the cool, firm grapes arrive at the cellar in top condition. Upon arrival, the cellar crew loads the press with whole clusters of Pinot Gris, gently coaxing the juice from the grapes, extracting the goodness while avoiding potentially bitter compounds that can come from the skins, stems and seeds. The juice is held at a low temperature for a couple of days to settle out solids before a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. No oak, no induced malolactic fermentation. The wine is from a single block of RSV's certified Biodynamic and organic Three Amigos Vineyard in southern Carneros. A mere 987 cases were produced of the 2010 vintage.