Today’s wine is something a little different than what I usually drink. This is a Pinot Grigio from California. I’ve had very little Pinot Grigio in the past. According to my records, I’ve only had one bottle before. I guess it is time to try this variety again.
I’m not really sure what to expect from this wine. Sure, I have some notes from my other bottle of Pinot Grigio, but that was from Australia, while this is from California, so there will likely be some differences. Also, this is a low-cost wine (MSRP of $9.99 for a 750 ml bottle), so I’m not expecting anything spectacular.
Big House Wines gets there name from the fact that they are “a mere ankle iron’s toss from the Soledad State Correctional Facility” (the “Big House”). Their wines have prison-related names, such as “The Birdman,” “The Slammer,” and “The Usual Suspect.
This wine is 100% Pinot Grigio, and it comes from California.
Time for the tasting.
I don’t notice much on the nose, but it may be because it is still a bit too cold since I had it in the refrigerator. I’ll check the nose again when it warms up a bit. I am getting some grapefruit along with a bit of mineral.
I take my first taste, and I like it. There’s some gooseberry there, along with a hint of something sweeter, maybe honey. I’m also picking up some mineral notes, and maybe a hint of floral. Bright acidity balances it out, yielding a light, refreshing wine.
I’m impressed with this wine. I really wasn’t expecting something this good from a wine that sells for under $10 a bottle. This is a very enjoyable wine. It’s well balanced, and easy to drink by itself.
Back to the nose: I’m still not getting many aromas, but that may be partly due to my nose. There’s definitely some citrus (grapefruit), but there’s a bit of sweetness, too.
This wine gets my “very good” rating. It’s well-balanced, and it has enough complexity to make it interesting and enjoyable.
This wine is available in a 750 ml bottle (MSRP: $9.99) and a 3 L “Premium Wine Cask” (MSRP: $22.00). This is a good value in the bottle, and a very good value in the 3 L cask (which is equivalent to 4 bottles). I’d recommend trying this wine.
I received this wine as a review sample courtesy of The Wine Group and Folsom + Associates.
Wine Details
Producer: Big House Wines
Vintage: 2010
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Appellation: California
Alcohol: 13.0%
Residual Sugar: 0.44 g / 100 ml
Total Acidity: 0.66 g / 100 ml
pH: 3.36
Harvest Brix: 20.0 – 21.0
Harvest Date: Sept-Oct 2010
My Rating: Very Good
