90+ Cellars Pinot Grigio 42

Pinot Grigio 42 from 90+ Cellars is a 12.5% ABV white wine carrying a California appellation. That moderate alcohol level fits the style, which is built for freshness rather than weight. Pinot Grigio made this way is usually pale straw in the glass, with aromas of pear, green apple, citrus peel and sometimes a trace of white blossom or melon. Expect a light to medium body, brisk acidity and a clean, fairly short finish. There is typically no oak influence and no tannin to speak of, so the wine comes across as crisp and direct rather than creamy or textured. That profile makes it an easy match for delicate, lightly seasoned food. It works with raw and lightly cooked shellfish, grilled white fish, calamari and shrimp with lemon and garlic. It also suits salads with goat cheese or citrus dressings, prosciutto and melon, and pasta in light olive oil, clam or lemon-butter sauces. The acidity cuts through fried appetizers and mild soft cheeses. Heavily spiced dishes or rich cream sauces will overpower a wine this light, so a fuller white is the better choice there. Serve it well chilled, around 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F). About three hours in the refrigerator, or thirty minutes in an ice bucket, is usually enough. Colder than that and the fruit goes quiet, and much warmer makes the wine taste flat. It doesn't need decanting. Pour it straight from the bottle into a standard white wine glass with a moderate bowl, which keeps the citrus and pear aromas focused and the wine cool as you drink. This is a drink-now bottle. Pinot Grigio in this style is made for its first year or two of freshness, and extra time in the cellar tends to dull the fruit rather than add complexity. Once opened, reseal and refrigerate it, and finish it within a few days for the best flavor.