Joie PTG 2007
Before a recent outing my friend Blake offered me up a glass of the Joie PTG 2007 which I had never tried and could not refuse based on Joie’s cult-like following hailing from their humble roots on the Naramata Bench.
PTG stands for Passe-Tout-Grains or Passetoutgrains, a French Burgundy style of wine that differs from the usual single varietal wines of the region by creating a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir.
According to Wikipedia this style of wine is usually drank young and ideally served at 16º C. I drank it straight off the counter at room temperature and judging that it is now 2010, the wine is supposedly pushing its 2-3 year lifespan.
Despite not doing the “ideal” this tart and fruity wine was like a cranberry or a barely ripe raspberry and was a nice light sipper to start out the night. It definitely tastes more like a Gamay than a Pinot to me, but according to the Joie website it is actually a 50/50 blend. According to the AOC a legit Passe-Tout-Grains requires at least 1/3 Pinot Noir. The only downside, which is possibly an upside, is that it is difficult to get your hands on the Joie PTG, so if you happen on it, you may want to give it a go-around.
Further reading:
Jurgen Gothe on the Joie PTG 2005
From the Joie Website:
90 points – Daenna Van Mulligen – WineScores.ca – October 8, 2009
Loads of tart fruits like rhubarb and red cherry and cranberry, carrot tops, cedar and wild herbs with undertones of forest floor. The palate is bright, expect juicy red berries, white pepper and spicebox. The texture is soft and silky, it’s light-medium bodied and is made for food! Elegant and delicious. Pair with turkey, cedar planked salmon or sauteed wild mushrooms.
90 points – Gordon Stimmell – Toronto Star – October 24, 2009
I’ve been munching through amazing British Columbia wines in the past few weeks. Memorable wines include … the Joie Farm 2007 PTG (Passetoutgrain), a classic pinot noir/gamay combo rating 90.Beppi Crosariol – Globe and Mail – September 25, 2009
…Joie Farm PTG 2007 , a thoroughly compelling and deliciously smooth spin on Burgundy’s “passetoutgrain,” which is a marriage of gamay and pinot noir. Now, that’s a vineyard wedding I don’t mind.
[...] information, but this one is surprisingly good for the $12 price tag. It reminds me a little of the Joie PTG and is likely a blend of Pinot Noir and something else which may possibly be Gamay. Allegedly this [...]