2009 Benvolio Pinot Grigio				*
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Friuli, Italy	$12	BevMo	6/22/11
	A water-white, lemon-colored wine with a moderately aromatic nose of lemon, green apple and minerals with hints of peach and grapefruit. The palate is light-bodied with high acidity with flavors that mirror the nose, though not with as much intensity as one would expect. The finish was fairly short with hints of lime and herbs. The wine becomes somewhat disjointed as it warms, which is why I couldn't rate it higher. While it's certainly drinkable, I expected something more interesting for the price, especially since I really enjoyed the 08 version.

2009 Trader Joe's VinTJs Pinot Gris				*
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Willamette Valley, OR	$6	Trader Joe's	11/30/10
	A water-white, lemon-colored wine with bright aromatics of apple, citrus, pear and spice. The palate has ripe fruit flavors with high acidity and a medium length finish. Flavors reflect the nose, but don't deliver much complexity, leaving the wine a bit flat and one-dimensional. Most people don't expect a lot from this varietal, but Oregon is supposed to be one of the better regions for this grape, so I had hoped it would be more interesting, even at this price point.

2008 Benvolio Pinot Grigio				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Friuli, Italy	$10	Out to Dinner	10/7/09
	A pale, straw-colored wine with a youthful nose of flowers, citrus and green fruits. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity and ripe flavors of lemon, apple and pear with hints of minerality on the moderate finish. A classy, delicate wine that was fruit-forward, yet dry and very food friendly. Lost none of its flavor or elegance as it warmed. Not very complex, but well-crafted for the price, showing how good this varietal can be from this region. Would purchase again.

2008 Coppola Bianco Pinot Grigio				*
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	California	$10	Whole Foods	10/2/09
	A pale, lemon-colored wine with a lively nose of citrus and tropical fruits. The palate is light-bodied with brisk acidity and flavors of lemon, peach, melon and notes of banana on the crisp finish. Drier than most US versions, this is a clean and well-crafted wine, it just wasn't that interesting and fell apart once it got even slightly warm. It's decent for the price, but nothing I would run out and buy again.

2008 Ermacora Colli dei Orientali Pinot Grigio				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Friuli, Italy	$15	K&L Wines	5/31/11
	A pale, lemon-colored wine with moderate aromas of citrus, green apple, melon and hints of flowers and minerals. The palate is light-bodied with refreshing acidity and a medium mineral, honey and melon finish. The flavors mirror the nose with lemon and apple taking center stage. Not as complex or expressive as the 2007 vintage, though it did show more flavor as it warmed and held its own with our Spring Vegetable Risotto, which really brought out the herb and lemon aspects. A solid, well-balanced, if not overly memorable wine. (13.5% abv)

2008 Summerland Pinot Gris				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Date
	Santa Barbara, CA	$17	@ the Winery	1/5/10
	A pale, lemon-colored wine with bright aromas of citrus and green fruit with notes of flowers and minerals. The palate was medium-bodied with crisp acidity, good balance and flavors of lemon, pear, lime, green apple and minerals on the moderate finish. Tasted less tropical and fruit forward as it did at the winery, but still a well-crafted wine that will go well with light salads or as an apperitif. Fairly dry for a California central coast wine with a 14.1% abv, which is high when compared to versions from other regions, but well-incorpated here. A good first effort, using grapes from the Los Alamos Vineyard, that has at least a year of two of life left.

2008 Tiamo Pinot Grigio				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Veneto, Italy	$10	Whole Foods	3/29/09
	A pale, lemon-yellow colored wine with a bright nose of ripe apple and pear, hints of citrus, tropical fruit and a touch of minerality. The palate is light to medium-bodied with a ripe green fruitiness and a medium finish with flavors of lemon creme and hints of tropical fruit and minerals. A well-balanced, crisp wine with nice fruit flavors that will make a nice summer sipper or a good match for salads or pasta. At this price I would buy this wine again.

2007 Derby Wine Estates Pinot Gris				***
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Paso Robles, CA	$18	@ The Winery	7/21/09
	I first tried this wine at the LA Wine Fest and was so impressed I visited the winery to see if it was as good as I thought or just the heat. With grapes grown by the ocean in San Simeon, CA at the cool climate Derbyshire Vineyard, this is not your everyday Pinot Gris. The wine is a bright, pale gold with stong aromas of citrus and flowers with hints of honey and minerals. The palate is medium-bodied, round and intense with flavors of lime, pear, apricot, ripe apple and honey on a lengthy and surprisingly refreshing finish. Clean and well-balanced this wine will be too ripe for some, but I loved it. Was lovely with our dinner (Shrimp alla Checca with Parmesan and Ricotto Cheese) and lost nothing as it warmed. Though 14% abv the alcohol was never apparent. Made with 100% stainless steel. Wished I had bought two bottles before the first was gone. (188 cases)

2007 Ermacora Colli dei Orientali Pinot Grigio				***
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Friuli, Italy	$15	K&L Wines	4/12/10
	A pale, straw-colored wine with bright aromatics of citrus, ripe apple, pear, melon and hints of vanilla and tropical fruit. The palate is light-medium-bodied and is creamy, yet still has refreshing acidity and a lengthy mineral and melon finish. The flavors are well-integrated and mirror the nose with lemon and apple taking center stage. This is an elegant wine that shows a more complex side to this usually mediocre variety. It was just as good cold as it was when it warmed. There's just something about the Colli region that makes this grape sing. Not only is this a lovely wine, but you can't beat the QPR. Buy it if you find it. I know I'll be getting more. (13.5% abv)

2007 King Estate Pinot Gris				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Willamette Valley, OR	$15	The Wine House	3/10/09
	A pale, lemon/green colored wine with bright aromatics of citrus and tropical fruits along with hints of flowers and a touch of minerality. All of those components come together on the palate which is light-bodied with brisk acidity and a crisp finish with notes of pear, lemon and minerals. A well-crafted wine with good flavors and more ripeness than its Italian counterparts. Would fare well as an aperitif or with light pasta dishes.

2007 O'Reilly's Pinot Gris				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Columbia Valley, OR	$12	K&L Wines	8/7/10
	One of the second label wines produced by renowned Washington winery Owen Roe that uses grapes that don't quite make the grade into the main label, though they come from the same vineyards. This wine is a very pale, straw color with a moderate nose of citrus and green fruit with notes of peach and minerals. The palate is light-bodied but lush with well-balanced acidity and flavors of lemon creme, apple, pear and minerals that became more developed as it warmed. The finish lingered quite long for a PG with notes of honeysuckle and peach. Was even better with our Chanterelle ristotto than alone. Really great QPR and definitely a wine I will be seeking out from vintage to vintage, along with Owen Roe's main brand. Can only imagine how good their single vineyard PG is.

2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Grigio				**
	Region	Price	Tasted	Date
	Santa Barbara, CA	$16	@ the Winery	10/13/07
	The aroma of this lemon colored wine jumps out of the glass, being both floral and fruity in the same breath. The palate is bright and crisp with ripe tropical and stone fruit flavors, which are more like Alsation or Oregon versions than those from Italy. Though light-bodied, the mouthfeel is as full as the flavors. Not your run of the mill Pinot Grigio, but still not complex enough to get 3 stars.

2006 Perfecta Pinot Grigio				**
	Region	Price	Purchased	Drank
	Northern California	$12	Silverlake Wine	4/20/09
	I have to admit I had three reasons for buying this wine: 1 was drawn in by the label (I know a chick thing), it was a good price and it was really hot out so PG sounded good. Thankfully, the wine is good, so my impulse buy was not a waste. It's a pale, lemon-colored wine with citrus, minerals and green fruit on the lively nose. The palate is round and light-medium bodied with lemon, ripe apple and pear flavors along with notes of minerals, pineapple and peach on the crisp finish. A well-balanced wine that matched well with our spicy tomato, basil and goat cheese pasta. Was concerned by its age, but it's still lively and fresh. Would buy again.