Community Review

Gray Monk Estate Winery Pinot Auxerrois 2020

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada

Community Score: 4.4/5
Community Reviews: 7

Price: $17.99

Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.1%

Drink: 2021-2024

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Gray Monk Estate Winery

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Due to FOMO I aim to be varietal curious in my wine choices. So when I had an opportunity to open a Pinot Auxerrois, I took it. Canada has limited number of Pinot Auxerrois vines and France is home to the highest number of vines, particularly in the Alsace region. In Canada some are planted by Gray Monk Estates in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley appellation. Their 2020 expression of Pinot Auxerrois is delicious.

In my glass, its pronounced aromas are fresh, nuanced and evoke floral blooms plus citrus and stone fruit slices and a faint beat of stoney minerality. When served chilled, this creation feels light with all kinds of right – light bodied, light acidity, light oily texture.

Off dry, its lovely flavours taste like citrus (such as tangerine and lime) and pears mingled with delicate touches of minerality and whipped honey. What I like most about this 2020 expression is its aromatic profile, so don’t jet past it on your way to the flavours. Take time to take it in.

From a food pairing perspective, I’d serve this with shellfish but I’d most likely serve it by itself in order to savour its scents and flavours uninterrupted by other ones.

Reviewed December 2021

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