Domein de Wijngaardsberg - Pinot Gris 2019

Domein de Wijngaardsberg - Pinot Gris 2019 (89 TSW)

Yes today a very nice wine from the Netherlands / region Limburg (Mergelland)

The soil consists of a layer of loess on limestone (called 'marl' in Limburg), which gives wines rich fruit aromas and fresh, tingling acids. The hills ensure a pooling of solar heat, good drainage and natural protection against late night frost. It is not too warm there, so that the grapes ripen nicely slowly and they can develop their full aroma potential. Only noble grape varieties are allowed for the production of Mergelland wine. These are varieties originating in Northern France (pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay and auxerrois) and Germany (riesling, rivaner, gewürztraminer and dornfelder).

Domain De Wijngaardsberg has a long wine tradition. As early as 968 AD. ch. wine was made here, the oldest evidence of viticulture in the Netherlands. The vineyards were cleared during the French period, but in 2002 the wine grape returned to the Wijngaardsberg. The domain is 3 hectares. Winemaker Jules Nijst strives for perfection in his wines in this historic place.

The vineyards are located on south and south-east slopes, part of which consists of terraces unique to the Netherlands. The cultivation layer is loess, the subsoil is pebble, the sand of waterfall and Maastricht chalk.

After peeling, the wine is temperature controlled fermented in stainless steel vats. Then 9 months aging sur lie with batonnage.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a light pink / copper color (skin soaking)
On the medium nose aromas of apricot, citrus and pear with hints of orangepeel and nutty hints.
On the palate dry, medium bodied with a nice interplay between the acids and the light residual sweetness. Flavours are a recall of the nose with a nice round mouthfeel. Very curious how it will be after some aging.
 
To pair with pâté, foie gras, shellfish or dried ham.