Wednesday, October 24, 2012

2011 J Pinot Gris (what to order by the glass)

I went out to dinner twice last week, and at both restaurants [Straits in San Francisco and Jason’s in Greenbrae], I enjoyed the 2011 J Vineyards “California” Pinot Gris by the glass. I’ve also noticed it on the wine list at Balboa Café and on the store shelves at Whole Foods.

This wine is super versatile and delicious. Unlike some white wines that can be overly tangy with tart citrus notes and harsh acidity, this Pinot Gris ($15/bottle) balances lemon/lime flavors with tropical fruits, minerals, and honey. It has a nice fruity finish that lasts until your next sip. And when it’s a balmy 74-degrees out like it was in San Francisco last week, that next sip can’t come soon enough!

The tasting notes on the J website refer to the Pinot Gris as “the perfect sipper when entertaining with friends.” I couldn’t agree more…

When I ordered it at Jason’s Restaurant, I was with a friend and it was the ideal choice on the wine-by-the-glass menu. We ordered a variety of different appetizers, including the tempura-fried green beans with spicy-sweet dipping sauces, shrimp cocktail, and sautéed scallops with asparagus and mixed greens. The food was super tasty and the wine paired beautifully with each of the unique flavors.

Blind dates, entertaining with friends, ethnic cuisines, spicy foods—the J Pinot Gris pairs well with all!

2 comments:

  1. Dear Cortney,

    Thanks so much for recognizing the great San Francisco Restaurants (Balboa Café, Straits and Jason’s Restaurant) and Whole Foods that present the 2011 J California Pinot Gris to their adoring consumers. We love that your and your friend find the J CA Pinot Gris as an the ideal choice on the wine-by-the-glass menu, and Jason’s tempura-fried green beans with spicy-sweet dipping sauces, shrimp cocktail, and sautéed scallops with asparagus and mixed greens makes for a perfect sipping wine pairing offering unique flavor profiles to indulge in.

    Thanks for taking on the day with a glass of J, Cheers!

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  2. Thank you for reading! Always happy to drink J wines - as I mentioned on Twitter yesterday, I haven't come across anything from your winery that I didn't love.

    All the best,
    Cortney

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