What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)

I appreciate minimal intervention in wine making, but when it comes to wine labels, I prefer maximum details and descriptions. At the very least, a bottle's label should offer the consumer a bit about the people, places and practices going into the wine. The Bethel Heights 2007 Oregon Pinot Gris offers a case study in wine label minimalism. Other than the producer, place, variety, and vintage being repeated on the front and back labels, one is left to wonder what went into this wine.

Fortunately, there are some insightful winemaker notes at the Bethel Heights web site for those diligent enough to go online. These notes explain in great detail where the fruit was sourced, what the vintage was like, how the wine was made, as well as which foods to pair with it. I wonder why the producer chose not to include any of this in a condensed form on their label.

I purchased the Bethel Heights Oregon 2007 Pinot Gris (13.1%) for $16 at my local wine store and we paired it with a single pot dish that Kari crafted comprising of roasted chicken thighs, Yukon gold potatoes, and artichokes in a white wine sauce. On the eyes, the Bethel Heights pinot gris was a light golden yellow. On the nose, it offered honeysuckle, tropical fruit and cantaloupe melon. On the palate, it was a bit sweet (1% residual sugar), but balanced with bright acidity offering a crisp finish.

At the end of the day, the residual sugar in this wine was a bit too sweet for our tastes. And the cantaloupe fruit was a bit too strong as well. In hindsight, the Bethel Heights style of pinot gris is probably better suited for a spicy Asian meal, where one might be inclined to reach for a riesling. It would be worth trying again under those circumstances.