When John and Jody Wrigley first met, they hadn’t a vineyard nor children. Seven years later, they have 200 acres in Oregon’s McMinnville AVA (15 acres under vine and growing), two kids, a dog and a winery titled J Wrigley Vineyards. (All family members—including the dog—keep the j-letter alliteration alive.) Amidst acres of timber and a Christmas tree farm that was written into the deed, the Wrigleys manage the expansive hillside property, thankfully relying on John Wrigley’s childhood spent on a farm. Now with 1,500 cases to their own, the Wrigleys expect production to grow as they are able to pull more fruit from their estate vineyard.
Sold heavily (and rightly so) to the coastal Depoe Bay, Oregon seafood restaurant Tidal Raves, the 2014 Pinot Gris is a salty stunner, with spritzy pear, green apple and mineral on the nose that carry over to the palate which is light, bright and briney. Not overcomplicated and blessed by a warm vintage with the location of higher elevation vines, this Gris is balanced and approachable, bringing elegance to simplicity.
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