Sicily’s Montalto is one of the white wine values of the year. Has the tension and nervy feeling of a $20 Chablis. Wonderful freshness and purity, so think aperitif or seafood something. Or just crack it open.
Maybe also qualifies the most hoaky label award!
MONTALTO 10 PINOT GRIGIO, Sicily 73148 $8.95
All posts tagged Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio Champ
The Big Dragani
If you’re looking for a deal on easy drinking white for your next party head over to the Italian section and look for the big Dragani.
This wine is much improved in the 2010 vintage and scores for refreshment, pleasantness and value. Must warn you that it’s a heavy bottle – may want to ask for a carry-out!
DRAGANI 10 PINOT GRIGIO/TREBBIANO, Abruzzi, Italy 620583 2L/$16.95
House Wines that Supports Cats
Storytime. When the owners of a certain South African 19th century Georgian flat-roofed manor house moved on, the cat stayed behind. On the roof of course. The winemaker at Uitkyk Winery (part of the flat roof house property) decided to create a line of everyday ‘home’ wines named after the cat and two are available at the LCBO.
The Pinot Grigio is fruity, super nice and perfect for everyday sipping. And the Merlot is bright ‘n lively with a little smokiness. A no-brainer with BBQ’d red meats. Both wines are a tad commercial but certainly fine for the price. And fifty cents of every purchase goes to the Toronto Cat Rescue group. End of story.
FLAT ROOF MANOR 10 Pinot Grigio, South Africa 37128 $10.95
FLAT ROOF MANOR 09 Merlot, South Africa 129874 $10.95
Billy’s Online Wine School
Wine School on the Web
Drink your way through Billy’s Best wine book – a bottle or two at a time. Follow the instructions and you’ll be a wine wizard by Easter. New lessons are posted every week, typically Wednesday. Looking forward to hearing about your ‘homework’!
Lesson #6 EXPERIENCE NICE
Nice is the most wrongly used wine description. When we enjoy a wine we tend to call it nice. What we should be saying is “this wine is hitting the spot, right now”. On a hot day a shrill Sauvignon can feel heavenly, but it’s a mistake to describe the wine as NICE. It’s not nice – it’s a good wine when we’re thirsty.
But th
ere are wines that are NICE. Comfortable, gentle, polite, easy. Wines for relaxation, to sip ‘n chat – hanging out with friends. A lot of Pinot Grigio falls into this category. This week I’d like you to buy the two wines below, open and have both over several evenings. Experience NICE. And an amazing wine value from Gallo.
LINDEMANS 09 Pinot Grigio ‘Bin 85’, Australia 668947 $10.95
Pleasant fruitiness, zippy freshness and a lighthearted feeling. What could be nicer!. Very social, very party gulpable.
GALLO 08 Pinot Grigio ‘Family Vineyards’, California 82594 $7.95
Great blast of lemonade freshness and summer day on the beach feeling. Drier, and way better, than most Californians in the low price range. Bring on the summer party season. Great value.
Bargain White – Get the Grigio
Looking for a bargain priced white for the month of January? Spinelli Pinot Grigio is a dollar off (now $7.75) and offers mineral freshness, lots of pep and just the right amount of flavour for everyday, general drinking. Handy screwcap.
Spinelli 08 Pinot Grigio, Abruzzi, Italy 113886 $8.75
Travis: I think Rioja is my most loved wine in the world - maybe Cotes du Rhon...