Sass Estate Pinot Gris 2017, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Sass Winery is located in the South Salem Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The hazy, warm days and cool nights of autumn help the fruit develop intense, complex layers of flavor and aroma that produce wonderfully rich, elegant and forward wines. Winemaker Jerry Sass produced his first wines in 1994, a tiny amount of handmade Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The winery has evolved since then, but some things will never change. They think small, hand-crafted production is critical to their goal of high quality and value. They produced only a few hundred cases of wine in their first years and now make only 3,500 cases a year. This wine is made from grapes grown at Sass’s 2 estate vineyards, Walnut Ridge and Wild Winds. The grapes were gently crushed and pressed, then aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the vibrant, fresh fruit. Flavors and aromas of apple, pear and pie spice finish with a bit of citrus zing. Fresh, bright, fruit-forward with mineral complexity.