Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Sicilia, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably peaches) with notes of spice. On the palate the wine is soft, almost creamy, with flavors of apple, perry, and citrus zest. The slightly aggressive finish has quite a bit of mineral character to it, though it tapers off nicely.

Our rating: We chose to enjoy our bottle with a meal of chicken tenders, asparagus, and farfalle tossed in a bit of olive oil, with which it paired very well. Unlike Pinot Grigios from northern Italy, which tend to be lighter and can typically be enjoyed alone or as aperitifs, this wine needs food to bring out its best qualities, and is probably best served with relatively simple, lightly seasoned poultry and/or vegetable dishes. (We don't see it pairing as well with seafood or with spicy cuisines.) A good family dinner-style wine, we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright aromas of peach and cream, apple and nougat with a silky dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a crisp, orange, melon, and straw accented finish. Delicious and balanced.

Winery website: None found.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Saladini Pilastri Falerio dei Colli Ascolani 2011

Saladini Pilastri Falerio dei Colli Ascolani 2011

Origin: Italy
Blend: Chardonnay (50%), a blend of Pecorino, Sauvignon Blanc, Fiano, Pinot Biano, and Falanghina (50%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden yellow in color with green highlights, this wine has aromas of apples and other tree fruit (notably pears) with just a hint of citrus zest. Crisp on the palate, the flavor profile is a cross between a Granny Smith and a Gala apple, some tartness balanced with a touch of sweetness. An earthy, almost smoky character develops into the moderately long finish.

Our rating: We're bending one of our rules here, reviewing a wine that has as its dominant grape Chardonnay. We typically limit its presence in wine we review to 30% or less, but we were unfamiliar with this Italian blend and agreed to accept a sample for review. We assumed — incorrectly — that it would consist primarily of more typical Italian grapes. (As an aside, we do drink Chardonnay on occasion, and would never refuse a glass if offered, but prefer ABC-style wines.)

We guessed right and enjoyed our bottle with roasted chicken. This is not a delicate wine by any means, and can hold its own against a more substantial meal. We suspect it would pair well with most roasted meats, in particular turkey or pork, though we don't see it as a seafood wine at all. We liked the depth exhibited here, but knocked off a couple of points for the rather heavy and somewhat intrusive finish. Overall, we consider this family dinner-style wine to be Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Saladini Pilastri. This wine is made with organic grapes. Though this wine is mentioned on the winery's website, the sample we reviewed is very different from that described on the website (as of the date of this review). We're guessing that this is one of those blended wines that receives a different composition every year, depending on the quality of the available grapes.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Bellini Frascati 2011

Bellini Frascati 2011

Origin: Italy
Blend: Malvasia Bianca di Candia (50%), Trebbiano Toscano (40%), Malvasia del Lazio (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale greenish yellow in color, this wine has aromas of green apple, citrus zest, and a hint of spice. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors are crisp and just slightly tart, and lean very much towards apple in character. The lengthy finish adds a soft touch minerality.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine, light and refreshing. The blend may be slightly different than that indicated above as we took it from a previous vintage, but it strikes a lot of right notes. We chose to serve our bottle with grilled chicken and vegetables, and found it paired very well. We think lighter dishes probably are best here: salads, vegetarian meals, simply prepared chicken or fish. Overall, we score it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A crisp, fresh white with vibrant acidity, brimming with notes of melon, apple and quince. Easy to enjoy, this crowd-pleasing Italian blend will enhance shellfish, light pasta dishes and fresh salads.

Winery website: Cantine Fratelli Bellini. This wine is not mentioned on the winery website.

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio 2011

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Trentino and Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale greenish-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably apples) with very soft hints of flowers, maybe even vanilla. The fruit flavors on the palate are similar to that of the nose, and with a bit more body than one might expect. The finish is relatively brief, and has a bit of apple zest to it.

Our rating: This wine comes in a cylindrical shaped bottle, the cork hidden behind a cap that is screwed off. The marketing clearly suggests the wine is modern but in some ways it quite traditional. Initially we were expecting a light, summer-type wine but we were surprised at the depth of character here. It can easily be consumed on its own, but we'd suggest pairing it with something light, sandwiches or salads, or an appetizer platter. It is very food friendly and should go well with most any dish. We rate it Above Average, maybe a tad higher.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Full and rich, with fresh ripe apple and pear aromas, and delicious juicy flavors.

Winery website: Voga Italia.

AlVerdi Pinot Grigio 2010

AlVerdi Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: Terre degli Osci, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden yellow in color, this wine has very pleasant aromas of apples and pears coupled with notes of sweet pineapple and a hint of banana. Very smooth on the palate with soft edges, the fruit flavors tend more towards tropical in character; there is a sensation of sweetness, though it is actually rather dry. It finishes by simply allowing the flavors of the palate to slowly diminish.

Our rating: This is an elegantly crafted and quite delicious wine, and not at all like most of this varietal from Italy. There is a lot of structure here, all the components of which work well together. We had planned on serving our bottle with chicken and risotto; only a small amount actually made it to the table as we consumed most it during the meal preparations. We disagreed a bit on what the minor flaws were, but did agree that this is just shy of an Excellent wine. And an absolutely incredible value at just $7.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A fresh, floral nose with notes of acacia flowers. On the palate it is dry and well-balanced with lively fruit flavors.

Winery website: None found.

Castellana Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2011

Castellana Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2011

Origin: d'Abruzzo, Italy
Blend: Trebbiano (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of apple, pear, honey and spices, with softer notes of almonds. The palate is similar to the nose, though the earthy, woodsy character seems more dominant here. The finish is persistent and has a slightly chalky minerality to it.

Our rating: This is most definitely a wine to serve with food and probably one that should be opened early and consumed later; we don't think it works all that well on its own. It's reasonably food friendly, though, probably best paired with roasted poultry or barbecue pork dishes. We can't say we're enthusiastic about this wine, but we didn't mind it either. A nice change of pace, but all in all, we score it just Average. We've reviewed this wine twice in the past, apparently enjoying those bottles more than we did this one: We rated the 2007 vintage and the 2008 vintage both Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 2011

Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Friuli, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lightly scented with aromas of tree fruit (apples, pears), this exceptionally pale, straw-colored wine is very smooth on the palate, with flavors of apple — a nice blend of golden delicious and tart green — cider and a bit of citrus zest. A moderately aggressive minerality develops into the finish, but doesn't overwhelm.

Our rating: While there isn't much depth to this wine, we appreciate it for its versatility, from being a simple sipping wine to one that could be paired with almost any cuisine. We enjoyed our bottle with a pasta dish — actually Swedish meatballs — and it worked out just fine. Available exclusively from Costco, we typically pick up several bottles to have on hand for those situations when we're being particularly indecisive about what to serve; this is a safe "go to" wine in that regard. We rate it Above Average and at just $7 a very good value.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Ecco Domani Italia Moscato 2011

Ecco Domani Italia Moscato 2011

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Moscato (100%)
Alcohol Content: 8.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A barely noticeable effervescence appears upon pouring this pale gold wine with silver highlights. It exhibits aromas of sweet tropical fruit with distinctive notes of freshly cut oranges. Silky smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors — juicy pear is what first came to mind — are sweet but not aggressively so. Indeed, the initial sweetness is tempered almost immediately by a balancing acidity. The finish adds some soft minerality but is otherwise rather brief.

Our rating: This stylish wine is delicious on its own, which is how we enjoyed our bottle, sitting on the balcony watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. We struggled a bit trying deciding how to pair it, eventually settling on serving it on our weekly "appetizer" night, a meal consisting of nothing but, well, appetizers. (We often do that in restaurants as well, ordering 3-4 appetizers instead of two meals between us.) We believe it would have paired nicely with our eclectic mix of foods … had it lasted that long. Which it didn't. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent, and a fine choice while spending a simple, quiet night at home. (We're also going to keep this in mind for our next social gathering. Its versatility and low alcohol content also makes it the perfect party wine. The attractive cobalt blue bottle doesn't hurt, either!)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Lovely aromas of peach, apricot and mandarin orange entice the nose, while the slightly off-dry palate has bright acidity to make this wine so refreshing.

Winery website: Ecco Domani.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light straw in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peach, apple) with a very slight note of earthiness. Of moderate body on the palate, the flavors are similar to the characteristics of the nose with a good acidic balance. That earthy, now almost nut-like, note becomes slightly more prominent in the finish.

Our rating: We've taken to replacing our standard pasta with whole grain pasta, which has a somewhat more hearty character and flavor to it. And this wine paired very nicely with our most recent dish, which included chicken as the protein. We believe it is probably best enjoyed with a meal, and not necessarily a light one, where it can easily hold its own. We previously rated the 2008 Cielo Pinot Grigio Average, but we think this vintage markedly better, at least Above Average and maybe a little higher. (A follow up note: We always write our reviews before reading what the winemaker has to say. And we have to admit, after reading that they use the term "bread crust" to describe the bouquet, what we called "earthiness" is actually probably more of a yeasty character. We'll have to add "bread crust" to our list of potential adjectives for future use!)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Colour: Straw yellow with green reflections. Bouquet: Bread crust and green apple. Taste: Fresh and drinkable.

Winery website: Cielo e Terra.

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

Origin: Toscana, Italy
Blend: Vermentino (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $3.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium- to dark-gold in color, this wine has aromas of apple and cider with strong notes of honey. The flavors on the palate are similar to the nose, with a significant cider-like character accompanied by some earthy bitterness. The finish is rather smooth, more so than would otherwise be expected.

Our rating: A note first about the price paid. This wine was specially priced when we purchased it, $5 off its regular $8.99 price. We appreciated the complexity exhibited by this wine, but simply didn't enjoy it. Most definitely a food-required wine, we served ours with roasted chicken and potatoes, not a bad choice considering. Still, we didn't care for the overall bitterness of this wine, which we simply could not get past. Vermentinos are meant to be consumed young, so maybe this example was simply well past its prime, but we rate it Below Average to Inferior and not recommended, even at the price we paid.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2010

Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2010

Origin: Orvieto, Italy
Blend: Procanico (40%), Grechetto (40%), Verdello (15%), Drupeggio and Malvasia (5%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale silver-green in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple, banana) with faint notes of citrus flowers. The flavors on the palate are similar though have a slightly bitter, almost nut-like character to them. The finish is remarkably similar to the palate, so much so that there is virtually no transition to make note of.

Our rating: We chose to pair this wine with a simple pasta dish with a side salad, but think it may be better served with a more robust meal. There's a fair amount of complexity to this wine, but we're not convinced it is all that harmonious. It is very different from the everyday ABC wine and we didn't dislike it by any means, but we're not sure we'd rush out to buy another bottle. We previously reviewed the Campogrande Orvieto 2006 and apparently enjoyed that vintage much more than the present one, rating it Above Average. We would rate this bottle Average at best.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Straw yellow with green highlights, the wine shows aromas which recall bananas, pineapple, and flowers. Full on the palate, savory and soft, it is a pleasurable, easy-drinking wine.

Winery website: Santa Cristina.

Stella Pinot Grigio 2010

Stella Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: Umbria, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale golden-green in color, this wine has aromas of citrus and herbs with some vegetal (bell pepper) notes. The flavor profile has a nice acidic balance, with citrus being the dominant character and maybe a touch of something tropical for a hint of sweetness. A bit of crisp minerality is introduced into the finish, which is of moderate length.

Our rating: This is a very versatile wine, from one that can be enjoyed as is to one paired with a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. We chose lighter fare to serve our bottle with, cold roasted turkey sandwiches, freshly sliced tomatoes, and home-made potato chips, and found it to be a refreshing addition to the meal. We previously rated the Stella Pinot Grigio 2007 to be about Average, but we think this effort is much better, rating it on the very high side of Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Aromas of lemon-lime citrus combine with zesty acidity and hints of mineratlity to create a light refreshing wine.

Winery website: None found. Wine information take from US distributor's website.

Tavernello Vino Bianco D'Italia NV

Tavernello Vino Bianco D'Italia NV

Origin: Italy
Blend: Unknown
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $4.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale green with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (apples, peaches) with notes of citrus and flowers. The fruit flavors on the palate tend more towards citrus, crisp but a little unbalanced, sour rather than tart, with some lemon zest character developing into the brief finish.

Our rating: We didn't care much for this table wine, the blend of which is unknown to us. (No information about it is available on the company's website.) Inexpensive to be sure, but we've had much better wines at comparable price points. We served our bottle with a vegetarian pizza; food tended to smooth out some of the rough edges, but we simply couldn't get past the sourness that develops — and persists — into the finish, even when consumed with food. We rate it Below Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: This crisp white wine has fresh floral aromas and is pleasantly fruity on the palate. Try it with roast white meats or simply on its own.

Winery website: Tavernello.

Cren dell' Ape Piemonte Cortese 2010

Cren dell' Ape Piemonte Cortese 2010

Origin: Piedmonte, Italy
Blend: Cortese (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light gold with green highlights, this floral wine has aromas of tree fruit (apple, pear) with a slight note of honey. The fruit flavors on the palate are more spicy than not, cider- and perry-like, with considerable mineral character. Though the finish is lengthy, it doesn't add anything new or different from the palate.

Our rating: Maybe it's because it is October, this wine reminds us of autumn. The flavors are definitely reminiscent of fall fruit and spices. There's a hint of citrus now and then, but it's definitely a background characteristic. This is an interesting wine, one that paired well with our grilled chicken and broccoli over pasta tossed with a bit of olive oil, though we think it might pair somewhat better with seafood than with poultry. This is not a popular varietal here — this is only our third bottle since we began our published reviews in 2007 — and we have little to go by for comparison; regardless, we rather enjoyed it and rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2010

Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium straw in color with tints of gold, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peach, apple) with notes of flowers and spice. The initial tree fruit flavors are almost immediately accompanied by a strong, but not overwhelming, spicy character, a little acidic at first but quickly balanced. The moderately long finish adds in a hint of almond.

Our rating: This wine has several layers to it, but they're not entirely harmonious. Not a sipping wine, but one that does pair well with a pasta dish, which is how we enjoyed our bottle. We generally prefer our Pinot Grigios to be crisp and refreshing — think summertime wine — but this one is a little too aggressive for us. It's not a bad wine by any means, just a spin on this varietal that didn't excite us. We previously rated the 2007 vintage Average, and we rate this one similarly … though we suspect that consumers who like a bit of unexpected complexity to their wines will appreciate this one more than we did.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: Castello di Gabbiano. This wine is not mentioned on the winery website.

Si Soave Italia 2009

Si Soave Italia 2009

Origin: Soave, Veneto, Italy
Blend: Garganega (90%), Trebbiano (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color this wine has aromas of perry (pear cider) and other tree fruits with faint floral notes. Of moderate body on the palate, the fruit flavors are similar to the nose, with more than a hint of spice or herbal tea notes. The finish is clean but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: Earlier this week we reviewed another Soave, yet the present wine is markedly different. Not different in a bad way, just different. Though it may seem at first there is a lot going on here, it's relatively simple in its structure. Towards that end, we think it works best as a wine to serve at lunch, or with a light meal (think sandwiches and salads). Last year we rated the 2008 vintage Average, and we rate this one similarly, maybe a touch higher. Regarding the unusual arc-shaped bottle, we like it quite a bit. It's playful and practical. Kind of like the wine itself.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: Si Soave Italia.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Cantina de Monteforte "Re Teodorico" Soave 2009

Cantina de Monteforte "Re Teodorico" Soave 2009

Origin: Soave, Veneto, Italy
Blend: Garganega (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Bright yellow with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus, green apple and herbs, with notes of spice and a hint of lemongrass. The flavors on the palate have a similar profile and are reasonably well-rounded. The finish is fairly short, but clean and refreshing.

Our rating: There is a lot of character and depth to this wine, so much so that — and somewhat to our surprise — we were a little unsure how to describe what were tasting, and constantly revising our notes as a result. We enjoyed our bottle with Tuscan-herbed chicken and roasted potatoes, a nice pairing … but also one that could have influenced how we perceived the wine. This is one of those cases where the wine seems to adapt to the meal being consumed, an interesting aspect. We think it probably pairs best with lightly seasoned poultry and vegetable dishes, though we wouldn't be adverse to trying it with pork. Overall, we rate it on the high side of Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Color (Visual): Clear, bright straw yellow. Aroma (Nose): Notable nose of violets and almonds. Taste (Palate): Vibrant and sapid with a characteristic aftertaste of almonds.

Winery website: Cantina di Monteforte.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Collezione Marchesini Orvieto Classico 2009

Collezione Marchesini Orvieto Classico 2009

Origin: Orvieto, Italy
Blend: Grechetto and Trebbiano (percentages unknown)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale gold in color with a tint of green this wine has aromas of citrus (lemon) and orange blossom with very slight notes of herbs, maybe lemongrass. The fruit flavors, mostly lemon and other citrus, are nicely balanced on the palate, and have a bit of body to them. The finish is relatively short and tastes a bit of lemon or orange zest.

Our rating: This is a very pleasant wine, if not an altogether interesting or memorable one. There are a lot of familiar characteristics to it, so much so that it fails to distinguish itself as something different and unique. That isn't necessarily a bad thing — all things considered, we rather enjoyed our bottle — but it seems a bit generic, like an everyday table wine … which maybe it is. Serve it with classic Italian dishes, though it's also quite nice on its own or as an aperitif. We rate it Above Average overall.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

La di Motte Pinot Grigio 2009

La di Motte Pinot Grigio 2009

Origin: Fossalta di Piave, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit, tropical fruit and very slightly of bananas, with hints of honey and spice. Smooth, almost creamy, on the palate with an initial tingling sensation on the tongue, the dominant flavor is one of spicy cider with a nice balance to the acidity. The finish is very brief and unremarkable.

Our rating: Almost everything about this wine, from the color to its slightly smoky character, suggests it was cellared in oak, but according to the website, this wine experienced no oak aging. Not expecting this, we mispaired it, serving this wine with a light meal of cold turkey sandwiches and a crisp green salad when we think it would probably best be served with something more along the lines of a fully dressed Thanksgiving dinner. Unlike most any other Italian version of this varietal that we've had recently, we're not sure if it is typical or not — it's certainly unusual based on our experience — but in the end we rather enjoyed it and that's all that probably matters. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Straw yellow colour with lively highlights. Soft on the palate with well-balanced acidity. This wine has an elegant bouquet, typical varietal aromas with hints of hay.

Winery website: La di Motte. The bottle image, taken from the winery website, shows a green bottle. Our was brown, but otherwise identical.

Placido Pinot Grigio 2010

Placido Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (1.5L bottle)

Our review: Light straw-gold in color, this wine has rich aromas of apples and tangerines with floral notes. The fruit flavors — similar to those on the nose — have a nice acidic balance, not too tart but not too sweet either. The fruitiness diminishes into the finish, which has a dry mineral character to it.

Our rating: Having been disappointing by so many of our experimental 1.5L wines of earlier this summer, we were surprised at how much we enjoyed this particular wine. To be sure, there isn't much depth to it and it tastes like the generic pinot grigio that it is, but for what we believe to be it its intended purpose — or at least how we would serve it, at an outdoor gathering of friends and family together with grilled meats and vegetables — it is more than suitable. Its relatively low alcohol content is rather attractive in this context, as well. And it has a screw cap, unlike so many others, and something we actually prefer, a thoughtful addition by the winemaker. On our standard scale, we rate it Average, but for our next party, where we need an inexpensive, versatile wine, we'll be looking for this one.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.