Little Sheep Pinot Grigio

Little Sheep Pinot Grigio is a Massachusetts white wine, a less common origin for a grape better known from northern Italy, Oregon and California. The details on file don't give a vintage, alcohol level or cellar notes, so what follows describes what Pinot Grigio typically offers and how to get the most from it. Treat the flavor descriptions as expectations for the style, not a measured profile of this bottle. Pinot Grigio is usually made as a dry, light-to-medium-bodied white with no oak influence and no meaningful tannin. Expect crisp acidity and a clean, quick finish. Typical flavors are pear, green apple, lemon and white peach, sometimes with a faint almond or wet-stone edge. Grown in a cool New England climate, the grape tends toward the brighter, more citrus-leaning end of that range, though this bottle's exact balance is for the glass to settle. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which is about two hours in a home refrigerator or 30 minutes in an ice bucket. Colder than that mutes the fruit, and much warmer makes the acidity feel loose. It doesn't need decanting. A standard white wine glass with a moderate bowl, or a tulip-shaped glass that gathers the delicate aromas, is all it asks for. Its high acidity and light body suit shellfish and other New England seafood: raw oysters, steamed clams, scallops, and fried or baked haddock with lemon. It also works with salads that have a sharp vinaigrette, goat cheese, simple pasta with olive oil and garlic, and grilled chicken or vegetables. Avoid heavy cream sauces and strongly spiced dishes, which will overpower a wine of this weight. Pinot Grigio is made to be drunk young, while its freshness is at its peak. Plan to open this bottle within a year or two of purchase rather than cellaring it. Once opened, recork and refrigerate it, and finish it within three or four days.