Description
Normally the idea of drinking a newly bottled Pinot Grigio doesn’t excite me. But, holy hell, you need to taste the First Drop Endless Summer. It has got a great whack of fruit. And not just pears, but more in the tropical sphere. First Drop Endless Summer also has a silky mid-palate. It is fresh and clean. First Drop Endless Summer is ready to drink right now. I’d buy enough First Drop Endless Summer to get you through summer then wait for the 2022.
I’d pair First Drop Endless Summer with sunshine and good company. Prawns would also be welcome with First Drop Endless Summer.
First Drop Endless Summer Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills 2021, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.
Two friends, Matt ‘Gantos’ Gant and John ‘JR’ Retsas, brought First Drop into being in 2004. First Drop makes wines to drink rather than pontificate upon. Their base is the ‘Home of the Brave’ in the heart of the Barossa Valley. The house style of First Drop is silky, textural, drinkable wines with a hint of funk and a lot of interest. They source an eclectic range of varieties and produce a diversity of wine styles. The fruit comes from vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Barossa. The packaging completes the wines, engaging and often humorous labels and stories behind them.
First Drop Endless Summer Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills 2021
“Ross’s vineyard is near Kuitpo in the southern Adelaide Hills – 365m above sea level on clay with shale
VINTAGE 2021: Good rains in late winter set vineyards up for strong spring growth, and an uninterrupted flowering resulted in balanced yields. Short bursts of heat in January and February were followed by average to below average daytime temperatures and cool nights in March and April. As a result, sugar and flavour ripening synchronised perfectly with whites displaying great flavour and aromatics, and reds showing promising depth and structure. Barossa Shiraz is a particular highlight, but all varieties fared well. Overall, 2021 is not as cool a season as 2002, but it was slightly cooler than 2012, and has the potential to be mentioned in the same breath as these two cracking vintages. So let’s hold our breath and cross our fingers! And our toes!”
Adelaide Hills
This is a big and varied region. Basically, it stretches from the top of the McLaren Vale all the way to the bottom of the Barossa. This means there is a big scope for climatic conditions. In the central part where its altitude is quite high, you can get some of the best sites in the world for Sparkling wine. In the slightly warmer parts of the centre, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme with Riesling, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc worthy of honourable mentions.
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Gris and Grigio are in fact the same variety, and both names mean grey in French and Italian respectively, which is somewhat deceptive because the grapes can be almost blue when ripe. The great wines of Alsace and North-Eastern Italy often feature Pinot Grigio. It grows all over the world now too. AKA Grauburgunder in Germany.
Australian Wine
The invasion of “Sunshine in a bottle” put Australian wine on the map. The fruity, easy-going, somewhat samey wines were endearing for a short time. Then the next big thing knocked them off their perch.
This forced producers to increase quality and emphasise the distinctive terroirs of Australia. Of which, there are many. And many more yet to be discovered.
Wine
Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.
The wine grape is impressive. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.
Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.
The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.
White Wine
It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.
It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long.
The Wine Depository
I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.
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