The Other Wine Co. Pinot Gris 2023

The Other Wine Co. is a new venture of Michael Hill Smith and Martin Shaw that was launched in 2015. While it is part of the Shaw & Smith stable - the wines are made by the Shaw & Smith team at their winery in the Adelaide Hills - the focus is on producing affordable wines of purity, flavour and balance. Wines made to drink and enjoy, not think about.

From an exceptionally cold vintage, this is the ninth release of The Other Wine Co. Pinot Gris. Fruit from the Adelaide Hills was fermented on solids in foudre, old oak and stainless steel, before spending four months on lees, which gives the wine a seductive texture on the palate. Add the pear, apple, jasmine and spice flavours, and a lovely wash of acidity, and you have a gorgeous wine to drink now or at any stage over the next three to four years.  

"Gris is often criticized for being anodyne. In these sort of hands, however, it is far from it. A textural gris of mid-weighted succulence and admirable refreshment factor. Aromas of freshly made lemonade, tonic, nashi pear, aniseed and a squeeze of lime, segueing to an effortless linger. Very good drinking."  Ned Goodwin MW

"The wine was fermented on full solids, partly in large format oak foudres, partly in seasoned French oak puncheons, and partly in stainless steel. It was then allowed to rest on lees for 4 months to build texture before being blended and bottled. Fresh, lively and textured. White pear, almond sorbet and jasmine on the nose. Juicy nashi and fleshy white pear bring texture and deliciousness, whilst the zip of cool season acidity sets the palate alight."  The Other Wine Co.

Expert reviews

"Gris is often criticized for being anodyne. In these sort of hands, however, it is far from it. A textural gris of mid-weighted succulence and admirable refreshment factor. Aromas of freshly made lemonade, tonic, nashi pear, aniseed and a squeeze of lime, segueing to an effortless linger. Very good drinking. Drink or hold. Screw cap."  Ned Goodwin MW, Jamessuckling.com - 92 points

"Very light colour with a faint grey tint, the aroma subtle dried flowers/pot-pourri, the palate reserved and light, with a good backbone of tannin and acidity beautifully harmonised with the fruit flavour. Faint echoes of jasmine and spice. The balance is fairly dry, clean and crisply appetising. Drink 2024–2029."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 90 points

About the winery

The Other Wine Co. is a new venture of Michael Hill Smith and Martin Shaw that was launched in 2015. While it is part of the Shaw & Smith stable - the wines are made by the Shaw & Smith team at their winery in the Adelaide Hills - the focus is on producing affordable wines of purity, flavour and balance. Wines made to drink and enjoy, not think about.

"When we started thinking about The Other Wine Co., it was about the sort of wines that we like to drink when we’re out ordering a glass. One of the things you want is the right variety in the right place, first of all to tick that box, and the next is all about drinkability, about having something that’s really delicious and  something that’s not going to be dominated by oak or alcohol or extraction."  Adam Wadewitz, Winemaker

The wines are "other" partly because they give the winemakers a chance to work with varieties and regions that don’t fit into Shaw & Smith's raison d'être. They are also an "other" perspective from so many wines that favour over-ripeness and oak to freshness and balance, and favour power over drinkability. These are made to drink and enjoy. That’s it!