Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2015 Wine Review

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2015

Marlborough, New Zealand

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 10

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Price: $19.95

Drink: 2015-2017

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 12.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: White Wine

Winery: Villa Maria

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

A lovely, white floral Pinot Gris with fresh pear and orange zest on the palate and finish. This wine won Silver in the Spiegelau International Wine Competition. Pair with medium spicy dishes for maximum pleasure.

This Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2015 was reviewed on April 27, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

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Reviews and Ratings

Rachelle O'Connor rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This New Zealand Pinot Gris really takes it up a notch, it is definitely full of promising aromas on the nose - peach, dried apricot, honeydew, orange rind, and cinnamon. The palate does not disappoint delivering a full flavored intensity with a balanced acidity and long finish. This wine manages to maintain its flavor profile with the foundation of its development in the Awatere Valley - typically a bit cooler and defined flavor profile by aging in French oak. This would be a lovely pairing to Indian dishes like a spicy butter chicken, Szechwan greens beans or ceviche.

Mary Anne van Gaal rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This Cellar Selection Pinot Gris has lovely spicy and floral notes. Ripe peach is predominant on the tongue and there is a light level of acidity. It was very good with chicken satay and other Asian inspired dishes.

Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The fruit for this wine is sourced from several vineyards from the cooler Awatere Valley. The nose and palate show pear, apple, peach, some spice and floral honey notes. Richly textured with medium body, great concentration and purity of fruit balanced with good acidity. 20% barrel fermented in seasoned French oak. Perfect pairing with chicken satay with spicy mayo. Tasted Sept 2015 at Villa Maria winemaker lunch.

Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Some of my new favourite expressions of Pinot Gris are coming from the Gisborne/Hawkes Bay regions in New Zealand. This Villa Maria PG is actually from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. Initially coming off very perfumed (rose petal) but later comes pronounced fruit foward aromas (passion fruit, banana, stone fruit and honey crips apple) plus dominant aromas from baking spices (cinnanmon, nutmeg). This wine is medium (+) bodied, off dry with a balance acidity and a moderate finish. Pairs very well with chicken satay.

David Skinner rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Light straw colour suggests a delicate profile. The smell of white peaches, pears and floral notes support this notion. Add a nuance of light baking spice to the nose and then compliment this with more peach and some nuttiness on the palate and this wine delivers a solid performance. The combination of moderate acidity and medium body with a medium long finish yields a decidedly balanced example of what Pinot Gris can achieve in Marlborough.

This wine can stand up to some spice but perhaps is best suited to light pasta and seafood dishes. Perhaps an orzo and shrimp dish.

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

I'm generally not a huge admirer of Pinot Gris wines, but this one is pushing me to change my mind. Aromas of Apricot & pear, with a little marshmallow and white flower as swell. The marshmallow was a bit of a surprise, but 20% of the wine is barrel fermented in French oak, giving it depth without making too 'round'. The taste is apricot and green melon with some white pepper showing as well. For pairings, stick with light chicken and fish dishes.

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Enticing stone fruits and floral aromas carry through on the palate, with a balance of both acidity and body. A luxurious mouth feel can be attributed to some of the fermentation time in seasoned French barrels.

1 Member would buy this wine again

Philip Weaver

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2015 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Reviews and Ratings