An Australian Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio by a real mass production winery ...

Yellowtail Wine Barrels

Over the years we have reviewed many Pinot Grigio wines, although most of them were not in the $10 range. We have recently reviewed many Australian wines, although most of them were not in the $10 range. And now they come together. Filippo and Maria Casella immigrated to Australia from Sicily in 1957. These third generation Italian winemakers purchased a farm in the Riverina region of New South Wales in 1965. By 1969 they opened a winery that is now the largest family-owned winery in Australia. Fully 15% of Australia’s wine exports are their products. Casella Wines boasts the world’s fastest bottling line, and is really making use of it.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio 2009 11.9% alcohol about $10

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note : Pale straw color; aromas of stone fruit, citrus and pear; dry, medium bodied, with crisp acidity, and delicate flavors of fresh apple, herb and nut. Serving Suggestion : Try with cream based pastas, salads or appetizers. And now for my review.

The bottle cap was an accident waiting to happen. After cutting it open, I had to flatten the sharp edges. At the first sips this Pinot Grigio had pleasant acidity. The pear taste hit me but it was fairly short. My first meal started with broccoli pancakes that included potatoes, onion, and oat bran. The wine provided a combination of pears and green apples. With a commercial chicken finger type preparation the apples became greener. The Louisiana pepper sauce increased the wine’s acidity.

The next meal centered on a barbecued chicken breast in duck sauce. The Pinot Grigio was slightly sweet and the now the pears were in the background. In the face of a chickpea, pimento, sliced olive, and canned corn salad the wine seemed stronger.

My final meal started with Matjes herring. This wine was not at all weakened by the herring which is often the case. The main meal was an omelet loaded with crushed chilies. The wine did well; I tasted pears and good, refreshing acidity. There was a lemony taste.

My first cheese was a cheddar. The wine’s predominated but the fruit was gone. Then I went to a better Swiss cheese. The Pinot Grigio’s fruit was still gone but its acidity weakened and then come back. In a sense I felt the opposite of many unsuccessful wine and cheese pairings: it was a shame wasting a fine cheese on this wine.

Final verdict. I would not buy this wine again. I have seen it on the Internet for $7 a bottle by the case. I still wouldn’t buy it.

Access the companion wine A Swiss Chasselas (Under $15)

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com    and    http://www.wineinyourdiet.com

Visit his website devoted to Italian travel www.travelitalytravel.com

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