The Four Graces Pinot Blanc 2014 Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 75cl

The Four Graces was founded in 2003 when the Black family bought a vineyard in the Dundee Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, naming the estate in honour of their four daughters. Now part of the Foley family of wineries, it has become a respected Willamette name for balanced, elegant whites and Pinot Noir.

This is a pure Pinot Blanc, a variety that thrives in the cool, damp Willamette Valley and rewards it with freshness and precision. The Four Graces makes it in a clean, food-friendly style that lets the fruit and natural acidity do the talking rather than heavy oak.

The 2014 comes from a warm and generous Willamette vintage, which lends the wine a little extra ripeness and roundness while keeping the crisp backbone that defines cool-climate Pinot Blanc. It is a white to enjoy for its freshness rather than to cellar.

Expect aromas of green apple, pear and citrus with a stony, mineral edge, a bright and refreshing palate, and a clean, mouth-watering finish. There is a gentle texture that adds interest without weight. It makes an excellent aperitif and pairs happily with oysters and shellfish, a green salad, or a fresh, soft cheese.

If you enjoy Alsace Pinot Blanc or an unoaked, crisp white, this Oregon example is a rewarding find. It is an easy, versatile bottle for warm afternoons and light meals, with the quiet class of a fine cool-climate producer. Serve it well chilled straight from the fridge, and enjoy it young while its freshness and stony bite are at their peak.