Wine of the week: Bollini Pinot Grigio 2011

The Wine Curmudgeon doesn’t trust Italian pinot grigio. Since it’s a wine that people who don’t drink much wine drink, a lot of pinot grigio producers feel it’s their duty to foist poorly-made, over-priced wine off on them. Some of the samples I get are so awful that I pour them down the drain after the first couple of sips (with loud muttering under my breath).

So I haven’t done an Italian pinot grigio review in two years, and an Italian pinot grigio has never been a wine of the week.

Until now.The Bollini ($12, purchased) is everything the rest of those wines aren’t. It’s reasonably priced. It doesn’t taste like rubbing alcohol. Even more amazingly, it’s varietally correct. There are aromas of flower blossoms, just enough apple and pear fruit to be recognizable, and bit of minerality (and not turpentine) on the finish. Serve this chilled, either on its own or with almost any light summer dish. It would also go with pasta and seafood. I'd even buy it again.

This is the kind of wine that people who don’t drink wine would love; if you know someone like that, tell them about it. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why I bought the Bollini. I guess I was feeling guilty about my attitude toward pinot grigio given that one of my goals for the blog this year has been to be more accessible to non-wine drinkers. I took one for the team, and I’m glad I did.

Comments

[Carol Lewis]

I am exactly one of those people you describe in your Wine of the week: Bollini Pinot Grigio 2011. My german mother was the wine drinker and I've been exposed to all sorts of wine during special occasions throughout my life because of her, mostly reds. I happen to be attending a conference in Greensboro, NC earlier this year and had dinner at a very nice restaurant called Giovanni's. I chose to have linguini with white clam sauce and asked the waiter to recommend a wine since I had no clue. He brought me a glass of the Bollini Pinot Grigio and it was instant love, love, love!!! So much so that I called the waiter a few days later to get the name, but he gave it to me wrong. He said Brosini - even spelled it and I've been searching for it ever since to no avail. It wasn't until I had the bright idea today to see if their wine list was online. When I found it, I immediately Googled and your review was the first thing I read. Now I'm convinced, I must have it. Maybe I'll have better luck now that I know what I'm looking for. Glad you took the time for us non-drinkers.

[Jeff Siegel]

Thanks for the kind words, Carol. I'm glad I was able to help -- more wine for more people!