It was a no-brainer to feature Nichol again for this Naramata-themed pack. Not only is all their fruit grown within 900 metres of the winery, but the wines are consistently some of the best on the Bench.
Their entry-level Pinot Gris is ubiquitous across the province. It's one of the top value wines in BC, and a benchmark expression of the province's most widely planted white grape variety. Their "Two Barrels" Pinot Gris takes it to another level.
The two barrels that go into this Pinot Gris are sourced from four rows planted in 1989, giving this wine a depth that’s well beyond your typical Pinot Gris. It’s rich and textured, with fruit that’s restrained and elegant with no obvious oak influence.
This wine is typically only available direct from the winery, so we were thrilled to be able to snag some cases for our club members.
Tasting Note
This wine is just as much about texture as fruit. That's not to say it's shy on the latter, though. It shows beautifully delineated peach and white grapefruit, along with cream and delicate spice. The old vines are felt on the palate, which shows elevated concentration and fruit intensity, with added texture from lees aging. This is the wine to pour for anyone who thinks Pinot Gris can only make simple, easy-drinking wines, because "Two Barrels" is all about depth and structure. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Food Pairing
Pan-fried Arctic char with succotash