Scarbolo Le Fredis Pinot Grigio, 2005, Venezia Giulia, Italy  Add/Read Comments

Should I have been surprised at how few wines from Venezia Giulia I can find on the high street? Just one is the answer. It is to the independents one should look for a decent selection - Italian specialists such as Bat & Bottle, San Lorenzo and Amordivino offer so much more. With no time to source from these retailers my entry for this months Wine Blogging Wednesday (hosted by Fork and Bottle) is from Oddbins.

Wine Tasting Note: Scarbolo Le Fredis Pinot Grigio, 2005, Venezia Giulia, Italy.
Available from Oddbins for £8.49.

An interesting twist of minerality to the full-on lemon flavours. A slight edge of vegetal (peapod or is that lees ageing?) complexity adds a lot to the flavour while unripened pears and quinces linger in the background. Crisp acidity, medium-bodied with a reasonable length. It's light and refreshing and a step up frm the usual Pinot Grigio dross but at the end of the day it is still a Pinot Grigio. Alcohol 13%.
Scribblings Rating - 84/100 [3 out of 5]

Valter Scarbolo acts as grower, cellar-man, restaurateur and acclaimed pork butcher with a proper 'hands-on' attitude to the vineyard. A majority of his production is white but it is the reds that gain the high ratings in the various competitions and yearly wine guides.