Qvinterra Grauer Burgunder trocken 2019 – Kühling-Gillot

Info

VDP estate wine

Color

Bright straw yellow, green reflections.

Nose

The 2019 Pinot Gris Quinterra's first impression shows mostly crisp, clean fruit from a very well-made wine. To me, this is along the lines of pome fruit that is not fully ripe, such as Conference pears. Freshly peeled, this imparts a pithy and fresh tone. That's exactly what I find on the nose here. It's joined by a bit of lime zest and fresh hay. After a few minutes in the glass, the lime becomes much more prominent and a positive honeyed tone spreads through the glass.

Palate

Lo and behold, it actually exists. A Pinot Gris that you can pour without feeling ashamed. And don't worry, the spread of honey aromas on the nose doesn't turn into sweetness on the palate. Pear and lime I find again on the palate as well as a rather green play of colors here. For a vintage as sunny and warm as 2019, this is very tight and tangy. The 12 % by volume is perfectly integrated here and there's not an ounce of fat hanging off the well-toned body. After all, that's often the problem with this varietal, unfortunately. H.O. Spanier quite rightly writes "no bullshit just sulphites" on the back label. Pure Rheinhessen or as the winery itself once had as a slogan on its flag "liquid earth". Delicate as perhaps only a producer of large, dry Riesling growths can bring to the bottle.

This is actually really good and beyond any doubt - especially any critic of this grape variety. Because that's what it is. A Pinot Gris in its purest form, stony, straightforward and with a pleasantly present acidity that clearly animates the drinking flow.