Town Center Wine & Spirits Luxury Wine Newsletter

 The Best Pinot Grigio We've Ever Tasted

We have for you today the best Pinot Grigio we have EVER tasted. We first encountered this delightful wine at a Vias Imports wine tasting we attended in New York last spring. It stopped us in our tracks.

First of all, you'll notice its wild color, which is slightly tinged with a whispy pale coppery salmon nuance. This is the real color of Pinot Grigio, but it's rare to find a winery which produces it in this fashion. This is the way Pinot Grigio is meant to be in the glass. The press is rather overwhelmingly in agreement with us on this ridiculously small production wine. A rare and exciting find indeed!

Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio 2009 (Friuli, Italy)

Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio 2009
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"A masterpiece - this is a true achievement. It is aged on its lees for seven months to achieve rich, sophisticated, mouthfeel, with long flavors of toasted bread, apricot and honey. The wine shows a slightlty copperish or ramato color, with a dense creaminess on the finish." (Wine Enthusiast)

Wine Enthusiast: 92 points

“Ballet shoe pink in color, this is layered, with good cut and a creamy palate offering an array of candied apple, almond, dried papaya, vanilla, pastry, grated coconut and spice notes. The smoky undertow gains momentum on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2017. 75 cases imported.” (Wine Spectator)

Wine Spectator: 91 points

“The Pinot Grigio Dessimis is arguably the biggest, richest Pinot Grigio being made in Friuli today as it is again in 2009. Crushed berries meld into floral notes in this textured, expansive wine. As is typically the case, the Dessimis pushes the boundaries in terms of what is capable in Friuli when it comes to Pinot Grigio. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015.” (Wine Advocate)

Wine Advocate: 90 points

“Pale, hazy pinkish-red; this has obviously been macerated on its skins. Bright, delicate aromas of raspberry, pear, vanilla and spices. Enters full and supple, then shows slightly muted flavors of citrus and pear complicated by hints of red berries and caramel. Comes across as considerably fatter than some past bottlings but without heaviness or loss of shape, thanks to lively acidity. Finishes dense, nutty and long. This needs time to develop a bit more flesh and complexity.” (Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar)

International Wine Cellar: 90 points

$39.99/bottle or $384/12 pack case ($31.99/bottle) or just $31.99/bottle in a mixed case of wine. This wine is really worth the splurge.

Kevin and Leslie

luxurywine@towncenterwine.com