Gray Monk Cellars Pinot Auxerrois 2006

Formerly successful hair salon operators, Gray Monk founders George and Trudy Heiss switched careers dramatically in 1971 when they purchased an Okanagan orchard and began converting it to grapes. Initially, they followed conventional advice and planted French hybrids. Finding the wines unpalatable, they were among the earliest growers in the Okanagan to move to <i>vinifera</i> varieties, identifying suitable varieties by consulting with the research institute at Colmar in Alsace. In 1976, they imported Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Kerner and Pinot Auxerrois.While read more...only a few vines of each of the first three were available, they secured about 2,000 Pinot Auxerrois, establishing a good foothold for the variety in British Columbia. Curiously, it remains a mere foothold. Total plantings of the variety are only 47 acres or 19 hectares. Because the variety has not won popular fashion, several producers have dropped it entirely.That is hard to understand on tasting Gray Monk’s consistently fine Pinot Auxerrois vintages. This is an attractively fruity white with aromas and flavours of peaches, nectarines, rhubarb and melon. The texture is full and the finish is refreshingly crisp and dry. 89 points.    (hide)

October 2008

Formerly successful hair salon operators, Gray Monk founders George and Trudy Heiss switched careers dramatically in 1971 when they purchased an Okanagan orchard and began converting it to grapes. Initially, they followed conventional advice and planted French hybrids. Finding the wines unpalatable, they were among the earliest growers in the Okanagan to move to <i>vinifera</i> varieties, identifying suitable varieties by consulting with the research institute at Colmar in Alsace. In 1976, they imported Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Kerner and Pinot Auxerrois. While read more...only a few vines of each of the first three were available, they secured about 2,000 Pinot Auxerrois, establishing a good foothold for the variety in British Columbia. Curiously, it remains a mere foothold. Total plantings of the variety are only 47 acres or 19 hectares. Because the variety has not won popular fashion, several producers have dropped it entirely. That is hard to understand on tasting Gray Monk’s consistently fine Pinot Auxerrois vintages. This is an attractively fruity white with aromas and flavours of peaches, nectarines, rhubarb and melon. The texture is full and the finish is refreshingly crisp and dry. 89 points.    (hide)