Saturday, September 26, 2009

Pinot Grigio - Bohemian Highway


Understand this, I am not a fan of the Pinot Grigio wine.  Typically I find them to be rather bland and uninspiring - cheap or expensive - I have yet to find the Pinot Grigio that goes well alone or with anything I happen to be eating.

But, since I enjoyed the Chardonnay from Bohemian Highway so much, I thought I'd give their other white wine a shot.  After all, it only required a $5.99 investment and their winemaker's notes were appealing:  it's "pleasing" and "fruit-forward" with honeydew, apricot and pear flavors.  And let's not forget the crisp grapefruit and light floral aromas to round out the refreshing finish.  Trust me, I wanted to like this wine, I wanted to enjoy it on this late summer afternoon.

Well, I'm no winemaker, but here are my notes on this very disappointing 2007 Pinot Grigio.  Beautiful pale, colorless wine pours well into a glass.  That's where my compliments stop.  There is barely an aroma to take in, but the fragrance that hit me first was pure-grain alcohol, followed by a light slap of turpentine.  Whew...  made my eyes water.  But, I trudged on, determined to get a true sense of this new wine.

One sip later, still not impressed.  The taste was as colorless as the wine itself.  I took another sip, swirled it over and around all my tastebuds, hoping to catch some redeeming sensory experience.  Inhaled deeply, trying to will grapefruit and honeydew aromas into my nostrils.  No.  Didn't happen.  So in desperation I turned to my husband.  (That probably sounds worse than I wanted it to sound - but you know what I mean...)  "Try this" I said lightly, an encouraging smile upon my face.  "Tell me what you think."

"Igh.  Smells like alcohol."  One sip later the glass was returned to my hand, no further commentary was required. 

My recommendation - save your $5.99 for the Bohemian Highway Chardonnay.  Leave the Pinot Grigio on the shelf.

2 comments:

  1. I was tempted to try the Pinot Grigio, but thanks to your review I won't. Interesting that the shop where I bought the Bohemian Highway Chardonnay had the 1.5 L bottle on sale and customers recommended it. I enjoyed it and went back to buy it again, but only the regular bottle of Chardonnay was available. To my surprise it smelled and tasted like pure-grain alcohol and turpentine, as you describe the Pinot. Very disappointing.There seems to be inconsistency in the quality.

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  2. I LOVE it. It was delicious and refreshing, light. Maybe you guys had colds or maybe allergies acting up...I don't know.
    And maybe who knows I might have just got a good batch. But I have great memories of polishing off a bottle with friends.

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