Francis Ford Coppola presents the 2009 Bianco Pinot Grigio.  This is a long and complicated name for a fairly straight forward and innocuous wine.  Hailing from California, this wine stays close to the new world style of fruit over terroir.  That’s of course lovely, but the real question is, ‘is it any good?’

Sight: Very lightly yellow, perhaps a tiny touch greenish.

Smell: Apple and pear are predominate, but there’s tiny touches of minerality, nectarine, lemons, and flowers.

Sip: Citrusy with a little cantaloupe and nectarine.  Lemon pith rounds out a light body with moderate-high acid. [ABV 13%]

Savor: Lemon pith on the end makes for a slightly bitter unriped fruit flavor.  Minerality is minimal, but present.

Overall, it’s a fairly standard Pinot Grigio.  Not particularly offensive, pleasant fruit flavors, and nothing overbearing.  It’s great for sipping or a light meal.   A good starting point for those new to the grape.

Price: $6.95
Geyserville, California
http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/