Tag: pinot grigio

Nagy Wines 2013 Pinot Blanc

If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m a fan of Nagy Wines. She packs a respectable amount of depth and complexity into varietals I thought I knew so well. And yet, for all of the intricacy, each wine maintains a well-rounded refinement, simply celebrating the fruit and opening its ability to pair with a variety of cuisine.

Well, Nagy Wines 2013 Pinot Blanc has a slightly different approach. A well-rounded celebration of the fruit is is. Deep and complex, it is not. Not every wine has to have layers and layers of diverse tastes and textures to be “good.” Sometimes it’s about a few good flavors, a consistent texture — sometimes it’s just about drinking wine for fun. Well winemaker Clarissa Nagy has crafted a wine that says, sometimes, girls really do just want to have fun. So let’s have some fun!

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J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Gris 2015

J Vineyards is another reliable name to keep in your cellar. They make everything that’s light and bright — from this Pinot Gris to a cool Pinot Noir. And their claim to fame? Well, that’s all about the bubbles. I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed by a selection from J Vineyards, so let’s start the roll call here with J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Gris.

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2015 Barrymore Pinot Grigio – by Carmel Road

I bought this wine on a whim. I was at the store perusing the wine aisles (that’s usually where you’ll find me in the supermarket) and I saw the label “Barrymore.” Ironically, I had just heard from my coworker that same week that Drew had her own wine label. Curious? Yes I was. Curious enough to buy a bottle, in fact.

Now for those who’ve read my previous posts, I did, in fact, also purchase her Pinot Noir. However, although I tasted Pinot Noir first, the Pinot Grigio was actually my first purchase. But I kept it in my cellar. Why? Well, my reasons are two-fold. 1) Pinot Grigios can be disappointing: I’ve had those that are so fruit-forward (borderline sweet) that I question whether or not it’s actually a Riesling or Gewurztraminer (won’t name names here). Then I’ve had those that have had so little flavor that I feel like I may as well be drinking water and save myself the alcohol points for something with some umph (again no names). 2) Because I had occasion to enjoy Drew’s Pinot first I actually had some high expectations for this wine so I wanted to make sure I was in the mood for a PG and had the perfect food pairing.

Well that time did come, and here are the results…

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2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio

It’s simply summer time and I need to constantly re-stock my white wine cellar and, as much as I like to experiment, I like to keep my cellar filled with solid staples. You’ve heard me talk about Chateau Ste Michelle and Wente as excellent producers of regularly available wines — some of which exceed grocery-store expectations. Well, here’s another name for you: Edna Valley Vineyard. It’s another label I see and just assume it’ll be good — even if it’s a varietal I traditionally shy away from. Long story short, I have yet to be disappointed, and the 2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio is no exception.

Pinot Grigios can be hard — either cloyingly sweet or so lacking in flavor you may as well just drink water. The 2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio meets that happy medium by providing a refreshing burst of fruit flavor…and a little something extra…

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Daily Drinker: St. Michael Eppen 2014 Pinot Grigio

Let me start off by saying that this wine is my definition of a “Daily Drinker.” Not only  is it easily accessible, both in price and on the palate, but it comes in a cute little half bottle at my local Whole Foods Market. I’m a big fan of the half bottle for a during the week drink — think of it as portion control. You know when it’s only Tuesday, but you really want a glass or two of wine, but you really don’t want to open a whole bottle and make vinegar for the weekend? Yeah, that’s when half bottles are awesome. And when the flavor profile is easy on the palate, well, that’s just bonus points.

Little did I know that my weekday, “Daily Drinker” actually has a bit of a story and a little more depth than I originally gave it credit for…

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