May 20, 2009

Wednesday's Wine - Francis Coppola Presents Bianco Pinot Grigio 2006

In honor of the extra warm weather we're having here in Colorado (until this weekend when it will be rainy and cool for the holiday weekend) I'm reviewing a white wine. I picked up a bottle of Francis Coppola Presents Bianco Pinot Grigio, 2006, last weekend for about $8.00. Right now if you buy a bottle you get a glass wine sipping jar type thing. Apparently, these kind of glasses are used in place like Provence, France by the locals. I like them, they hold just enough wine for sipping with appetizers, or a small dinner.

Anyway, this Pinot Grigio is crisp, just the way I like my white wines. It has some nice fruit flavors without being sticky sweet. Also, there's a bit of butteriness as well. Technically, this is a white wine blend. It's 90% Pinot Grigio with 5% each of Chardonnay (there's the buttery...heh) and Sauvignon Blanc. It was a nice counter point to the fish fajitas I made last night.

Here's what the folks at the Coppola's winery said about their wine:

Our Pinot Grigio grapes are night harvested and delivered to the winery in the early morning, where the grapes are cold pressed and fermented under cool conditions.

Our Bianco Pinot Grigio is also fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve its fresh fruit aromas and flavors. A small amount of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are blended into the final wine to add complexity.

ENJOY!

16 comments:

jennifer from pittsburgh said...

Stainless steel. Huh. Well, I guess they have their reasons for that, but you would think that glass would be better, if they're trying to preserve purity of taste. Personally I prefer oak barrelled wine. But I'm old fashioned.

TheWeyrd1 said...

Jennifer...sometimes and Oak Barrel doesn't improve the grape or the wine. I'm guessing that if the desired outcome is something crisp and refreshing, oak would add an earthiness that would blunt that taste experience. I once tried a bottle of red wine that was aged in an oak barrel and the exact same batch that was aged in a stainless steel barrel. The difference was obvious. I preferred the oak on the red wine, however without it, the wine did taste cleaner. I think with white wine, oak is good for the heavier flavored wines kind of as a counter point to other tastes...for example with the butteriness of Chardonnays. Check out some whites that aren't oaked, just to stretch your palate and tasting experience.

Anonymous said...

Makes me feel a little bad for the folks who have to be out at night harvesting the grapes!

TheWeyrd1 said...

citizen...then again, I would rather pick grapes in the cool night air than the heat of the day...

KatSmaK said...

You almost sold me on that one tonight.... almost. ;)

lynt said...

I'm a fan of the Coppola wines -- actually R and I are in their wine club, so we have quite the collection of the little glasses. And now I'm wanting fish fajitas (well, tacos preferably) to go w/this one. Haven't tried it yet --good price.

TheWeyrd1 said...

Kat...can't beat your version with the blueberries in it...heh.

Lynt...at last! Someone that knows what those little glasses look like and what they're for!!! Good luck with the fish tacos.

KatSmaK said...

*can't beat your version with the blueberries in it.*

Damn. My secret is out. I might as well come completely clean -- I ALWAYS bastardize perfectly good white wines by floating fruit in them. Strawberries and Kiwi fruit being other favorite choices.

TheWeyrd1 said...

I won't tell anyone else...that doesn't stop by...

Jannie Funster said...

OMG, I bought it and LOVED IT!!!!!!! Jsut my perfect crispness.

baguette, soft butter. Mussels in lemon saffron cream sauce. Ceasar salad.

Does life get any better than that!?!?

P.S. My comment thing is sorted now.

And my secret captcha word for this is "retell" so I best go retell someone about the Pinot Grigio. It is truly a sign.

TheWeyrd1 said...

Jannie...Glad you loved it!

Jdancer8 said...

I love when you review the wines I will like. April has taken to the reds though so its great to have a little something for everyone, not to mention your only a text away if I need wine assistance :o)

Jannie Funster said...

Yes it was perfect!

and btw..

I've got a CD give-away going on my blog now, you might want to mosey on over there by Monday at 8:00 Central Time.

Whoo-hoo!

TheWeyrd1 said...

J...you know these white wine selections are all about YOU...heh.

Jannie...I left a comment on your blog... But seriously, can you see ME with a CD called "I Need A Man."

Jannie Funster said...

Yep, me the wino! :)

Okay I gotta stop going back and back-commenting 'cause I might never get off this chair. If ya know what I mean. Actually, that might be a good idea for a blog post, when do you stop commenting on the same post, because if the poster is polite and replies, like you and many others do, you could keep the string going for like... forever. Yet, if you don't come back will the poster sit home alone crying 'cause you left a burning question unanswered?

Ahhhhhhhh. The Internests -- it never ends.

Cheerio.

TheWeyrd1 said...

Jannie...was there a burning question in all that??? Heh.