Over the past few years, brothers Pierre and John Philip (JP) Winshaw have released some impressive wines within their premium Winshaw Vineyards range, including two Cape Bordeaux blends, a single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and an impressive Malbec, all of which have sold incredibly well locally and internationally. The range is of course continuously evolving and being fine tuned and this year sees another very impressive range of more modest value for money “estate wines” released under their straight Winshaw label, previously known as Usana. On the whites, the range includes a Chenin Blanc, a Chardonnay and a delightful Pinot Gris. I recently cracked a bottle of their new 2024 release to see if it was something to get excited about.
Winshaw The Runaway Pinot Gris 2024, WO Stellenbosch, 13.5% Abv.
Pinot Gris (or Grigio in Italy) can be a pretty innocuous grape making thin dilute cocktail wines. But this beauty from the Winshaw brothers is more in the premier league alongside top examples from Friuli, Alto Adige and of course Alsace in France. For starters, this sophisticated example was fermented in a combination of stainless steel and old oak barrels with extended ageing on its fine lees (fermentation yeast sediment) lending the wine more complex aromatics and an extra textural dimension.
The characterful nose is jam packed full of fragrant white blossoms, candied summer fruits, crunchy pineapple, white peach with a zesty twist of lime peel citrus. The palate is equally inviting, medium bodied but impressively fleshy, pithy and fresh revealing a delightful yellow orchard fruit phenolic grip, more white peach and tangy green apple fruits dusted with dried baking herbs. The bright acidity kicks in again on the finish, offering the wine a crystalline purity and a pithy yellow citrus energy. A dynamic, versatile white wine that ticks all the boxes – from stand alone quaffing to more intricate food and wine pairings. Drink now to 2028+.
(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Winshaw Pinot Gris is available in the UK from South African specialist merchant Museum Wines at a modest £16.99 per bottle retail.