Good Cheap Wine Guide

*Twin Fin California Pinot Grigio- Price last paid $9.99 -White -2005

RATING: “Good enough for my numb tongue”

What I thought: OK, I really don’t love whites. I could be wrong therefore on any white of which I write. (clever huh) However, it was a hot, I mean 103 hot, day. We were cooking spicy chicken on the grill. (Great marinade by the way is Grill Mates by McCormick, this one was Spicy Chicken but we love the Chipotle Pepper too.) It seemed to call for a white. To me whites in the summer should almost be frozen. I chilled this bottle really well, freezer to fridge to ice-bucket to glass. It may have been so cold that I didn’t get the real taste. It’s a white, I’m good with that. As you would expect it was fruity, dry and really quenching. It also took on the spice from the chicken in a good matchup. My wife, who likes sweeter whites (and doesn’t like reds!) didn’t enjoy the taste.

I really fell in love with the story line behind the wine more than the wine itself. The two neo-Californians from Australia who run Twin Fin, Hugh Reimers and Sam Burton, did a pretty cool job on saying California beach nostalgia in a bottle. Also cool website for a wine joint. http://www.twinfinwines.com Sound of waves hitting the shore, wine bottles in the sand (doesn’t beach sand get really hot?) Anyway, probably worth your ten bucks… if your not a snob. Screw-cap warning zone for those who like the cork screw.

Others say: http://www.twinfinwines.com/PinotGrigio.pdf

Our inaugural vintage of Twin Fin Pinot Grigio is an excellent introduction to the emerging “California-style” of this varietal. Blend one part crisp acidity, similar to Pinot Grigio from the old country (aka- Italy), with a dose of floral flavors and aromas similar to the Pinot Gris-style wines of Alsace. Twin Fin gives you the best of both worlds, California-style! After crushing, Twin Fin Pinot Grigio was fermented in 100% stainless steel at 55-degrees in order to retain all of its natural aromatics. This fermentation technique allows the wine’s natural brightness and vibrancy to shine through.

The addition of 10% Monterey County Gewürztraminer gives the Pinot Grigio a floral, lifted flavor that adds a little bit of complexity to the final blend. By all means, feel free to enjoy this wine in its youth! This is a clean, crisp, fruit-driven wine that has all the earmarks of the perfect summertime quaffing white. Enjoy it with shrimp on the grill, a fresh salad or freshly shucked oysters.

Yeah.. sounds right. Good lighter fare companion.