Meridian Pinot Grigio 2005

by Ethan Johnson
October 25, 2006

I've heard that when it comes to wine and food pairing, it's not the color of the food that you're matching, it's the flavors. White wine with chicken may be a no-brainer, but what if it's covered in cream of celery soup? Worse, what if it's tuna and not chicken? White may still be the answer, but the question is, which white? Tonight's food matching conundrum might require:

Producer (Vineyard): Meridian
Varietal (Grape type): Pinot Grigio
Vintage (Year): 2005
Country: USA (California)
Color: White
Cost: Inexpensive ($10 USD)

Teh booze

Swirl and Sniff: Pale yellow. I got "grassy" off the glass at first, then grapefruit.

Taste: Hmmm. If I had to use one word, I'd say "inoffensive". This may sound bad, but actually, considering the sharpness issues I've been having with Pinot Grigio it's an improvement. However, this was bursting with grapefruit flavors, and I really don't care much for grapefruit. As expected, there was grassiness in there, and as the wine warmed up over dinner, yes, it got sharp edges. But it didn't start out that way which is a plus.

Pairing: I paired this with creamy tuna casserole. The wine held its own, and while not really enhancing any of the flavors (or vice-versa), it didn't battle to the death, which was appreciated.

Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):

  • Buy three or more bottles for regular enjoyment
  • Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
  • Ask for when dining out or at a party
  • Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
  • Politely decline and never drink again, ever

I can't call myself much of a Pinot Grigio "fan", so I'm not looking to stock up on the stuff. However, if I were dining out and ordered something sympatico (like tuna or chicken in a cream sauce) I'd give it another go. Also, if you're hosting a party and want a good all-purpose white (especially if the ratio of female guests to males is 1:0 or greater), you could do worse than have a bottle or two on hand.

If you do give this a try, please let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>

(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)

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