Varietal:Â 100% Pinot Grigio
Region:Â Argentina – San Juan
Cost:Â $13 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes:Â Pale straw in color with silver hues. Aromas of white flowers and citrus with a palate that is refreshing and balanced, with citrus notes and a crisp finish. Pairs well with white fish, assorted seafood dishes, Asian cuisine, and is a great apertif.
My Review: Â I was intrigued when I was offered this sample as, at least as far as I can remember, I’ve never had a Pinot Grigio from Argentina. One a Sunday relaxing with my wife we decided to open it up to go with our lunch.
In the glass the wine was a light yellow color and on the nose I got light citrus notes, though they were subtle. On the palate is where I found this wine to be really interesting. The front of the wine was more full bodied than I was expecting from a Pinot Grigio, and in fact reminded my wife of a Chardonnay. The middle ofthe wine had the citrus notes I was expecting, but around the finish I got some floral notes and a hint of sweetness that made me thing of a Virginia Viognier as much as anything.
Paired with a lunch of cheese (some basic cheddar, smoked gouda, and blue cheese), some spicy krab dip, and some sliced rosemary bread, it was a nice pairing. Especially when paired with the krab dip, the wine was a nice and refreshing note against a surprising amount of heat from the krab dip.
If Pinot Grigio is a grape that you’re either trying to get back into or are just looking for something different from the grape, the 2010 Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio Reserve is definitely worth checking out. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was something new, and that’s often better than what your expectations are.
