Cape Jaffa En Soleil Wrattonbully Pinot Gris 2015

The fruit here comes from the Koch family’s organic vineyard at Wrattonbully. There is so much promise with the fruit sourcing and intentions with these Cape Jaffa wines, with great blends and a real sense of experimentation. Yet for all that, the wines taste just a little conventional, for want of a better word. More wildness would do wonders methinks (so extended time on skins, limit fining and filtration etc etc).

Pitched as a ripe and textural style with lees ageing, it’s actually quite neutral, the white nectarine and pear flavours lightly textural, the palate dry and taut with chalky phenolics. I kept waiting for the ball to drop here, but it remained just a little shy and rather Grigio-esque style with tart acidity. Given time this could blossom but just a bit boring now. Best drinking: 2016-2018. 16.5/20, 88/100. 12.5%, $27. Would I buy it? Not quite.