Pinot Gris from Hungary

Often overshadowed by its more glamorous cousin (Pinot Noir), Pinot Gris is a fantastic grape producing very aromatic wines - perfect as a summer patio sipper. A mutation of the Pinot Noir grape, Pinot Gris was first found in the vineyards of Burgundy, but found it's true home in Alsace, France where it produces incredibly concentrated wines. But Alsace isn't the only region producing excellent Pinot Gris - parts of Italy, Australia, Canada, Oregon, Austria, and New Zealand make great examples of the wine.

Apparently you can include Hungary to that list.

Dunavar 2006 Pinot Gris
12.0% ABV, $9.49 CAD
BC Liquor Store availability


The Dunavar 2006 Pinot Gris comes from Hungary, a country that produces the world famous dessert wine Tokaji Aszu. And while it may not be known for its Pinot Gris', this is a fantastic expression of the grape at a really great price.

It has a very classic Pinot Gris nose - and smells like freshly cut stone fruit (imagine you made a fruit salad with only peaches and apricots), ripe melon, and a floral component in the background. On the palate, the wine tastes very much like it smells - with precise peach and melon flavours, and a hint of spice. The finish is surprisingly long (you continue to taste the wine in your mouth after you have a sip for 30 seconds) and is well balanced with good acidity.

Petit Verdot from Australia

Petit Verdot is a grape that you don't usually see as a single varietal. Often you will notice it included in Bordeaux (its homeland) and Meritage blends, but in very small quantities. This is because it is a very hard grape to ripen fully, but gives extra colour, flavour and tannin to blends. One place that has had success in ripening the grape is Australia - one of the few places that you can find single varietal Petit Verdot in all its glory. Enter the Dean De Bortoli Petit Verdot from South Australia...

De Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2005
14.5% ABV, $18.99 CAD
BC Liquor Store availability


This Petit Verdot is not for the faint of heart - it is massively endowed in every way. You can tell right away from the colour: a dark black core fading to a dark purple at the rim. The nose is huge with tremendous amounts of dark fruit (cherries, blackberries) layered overtop cedar/cigar box, cocoa, mocha and subtle violet components. On the palate, the wine is full bodied with cherry, plum vanilla and caramel flavours. It finishes dry and quite long.

I found this to be quite an interesting example of Petit Verdot, and while it tastes somewhat over the top (i.e. the intensity of the fruit flavours is off balance in comparison to the rest of the wine's structure), it was an enjoyable experience, one that many people who enjoy very potent New World fruit-explosion-in-your-mouth type wines would also like. For under $20, this is definitely worth a whirl.