Pinot Gris is a variety that escaped from being dumbed down. Appalling examples from Northern Italy, called Pinot Grigio, turned away any serious drinker and any adventure left was killed off by bulk producers using the variety for insipid, sweet wine. My hint of much more came from the New Zealand winery Chard Farm on the South Island. This was confirmed by examples from Austria, then the global mood changed and boutique winemakers all over altered the perception.
Eden Valley, despite the high reputation of Henschke, is not the first choice of consumers, though I ask customers to have a rethink. Eden Valley is really the eastern extension of the Adelaide Hills, much drier and with altitude hundreds of metres above the Barossa Valley. Imagine an elevated high, dry, plateau and you have the picture. There is no other Australian district with just these geographic features and they create quite special flavours.
We know how Riesling has adjusted to make something special and the same tension is found in this Pinot Gris.
