“Pinot Grigio, when well done, is light, refreshing,...”

written by degbert on 27/10/2009

Pinot Grigio, when well done, is light, refreshing, drinkable, with gentle hints of white fruit and a very limited acidity or after-taste. There are some great examples from across the globe, and as the name suggests its spiritual home is Italy, in the same way that - arguably - Sauvignon Blanc is most comfortable up the Loire valley in mid France.

However, we know all too well the "new world" (a term I am sure some folk find offensive) has something to say about the accepted norm; the Kiwis and South Americans are blazingly frighteningly fruity trails with Sauvignon, California as well as elsewhere is going big on big fat Chardonnays, the Aussies have made an impenetrable enclave in the Hunter Valley for Semillon, and their Shiraz is as good as any. Pinot Grigio has been 'tried' elsewhere too - and once again Australia has made a pretty good stab at it.

Yellow Tail is a pretty good example of what you might expect. Its light, drinkable, youthful, with a hint of floral blossom to the nose, and a touch of white fruit to taste and a quick decay on the finish. Its not bad. There is a linger, however, that you don't get perhaps on other Pinots from perhaps slightly cooler climates, where the fruit probably hasn't ripened quite so much, where you'll get somehting more than the white fruit, you'll perhaps be getting lychee, rose petal, maybe even something sweeter.

Not a criticism, but a bone dry aperitif this is not. It means it will stand up better to some more robust meals, of course, but as an afternoon glug, its a bit more work than a Venetian. Wine, I mean. But all in all not bad, and my only real point here is that its a bit more after-taste than I would hope.