Castello Banfi (Italy) Pinot Grigio 2005
Although this was better value when included in one of Majestic’s 20% off Italian wines offers a couple of months ago, it is still an unusual and excellent wine that’s worth recommending at full price. Pinot Grigio is not an indigenous grape for Tuscany, but Montalcino-based producer Castello Banfi discovered one particular vineyard site, the San Angelo vineyard, at an altitude of 980 feet, where the variety flourished. The result is a fairly serious style of Pinot Grigio, bottled as an ‘IGT’ (a bit like France’s Vin de Pays). It has a lovely nose of slightly floral, slightly peachy, melon and ripe pear fruit with just a nuance of straw. On the palate it has beautiful fruit: it is almost tropical, with a hint of pineapple richness, but the overriding impression if of ripe, juicy pears and a tugging cut of citrus acidity that slices through to the finish. A very nicely balanced wine with a bit of real character. 7.99, Majestic.
