Pinot Grigio has become the de facto by-the-glass wine for many people, lapped up in bars, pubs and restaurants as almost anonymous, generic white wine. But Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris) can take on a more substantial form, and some producers are making much more striking examples.
My wine comes from New Zealand, not Italy (the home of Pinot Grigio). New Zealand's wine producing fame may rest with Sauvignon Blanc, but we are seeing more and more Kiwi Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris wines on the shelves, and with more flavour, texture and personality than many examples.
The Ned Pinot Grigio 2012 has a hint of pink to the colour, because the skins of Pinot Grigio grapes become quite a deep red as they ripen late into the autumn. The nose is deliciously inviting: it's like opening a can of tinned pears, with fruit and syrup notes, and a lovely feeling of freshness. In the mouth this is a wine with weight and texture. It is perhaps just off-dry, making it so easy to sip on its own, but also giving it broad food-matching potential.
The price of £9.99 is OK for this quality, but it is on offer in Majestic at £7.99 through until the start of February 2014. Please do watch my full video review for more about this wine and for some specific food matching suggestions.
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