Botteca Vinaia Pinot Grigio 2014

So last month I managed to carve out a few hours for a decadent Italian lunch at Il Mulino, one of New York City’s finest Italian restaurants.  As luck would have it, I dined during NYC’s Restaurant Week, no less!  What glass of wine would pair beautifully with the scrumptious cheeses, freshly-baked bread, oysters, bruchetta, Caesar salad and incredible veal parmigiana without overwhelming the multitude of subtle yet amazing tastes of the feast?  Well, wine sleuths, I have your answer: Botteca Vinaia Trentino Pinot Grigio 2014 from Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. Unlike many Pinot Grigio’s I have sampled over the last couple of years, the Botteca Vinaia Pinot Grigio 2014 had an inviting palate of honeysuckle, apricots and light minerality yet retained the refreshing acidity that one expects out of a fine Pinot Grigio.  With the delicious aged parmigiana cheese and fresh bread, the Botteca Vinaia Pinot Grigio complemented the richness of the aged cheese while not washing it away.  Similarly the minerality of the Italian Pinot Grigio paired beautifully with both the raw oysters and the spicy bruchetta.  Finally, the Botteca Vinaia 2014 managed to hold its own with the delicate yet hearty veal, marinara and rich cheese entree.  Best of all?   This lovely Pinot Grigio could be had by the glass at a reasonable $12 per glass on the Upper East Side.   By the bottle for those of us off the island, it retails for $16 per 750 ML bottle, even less with some careful sleuthing. If your impression of Pinot Grigio is a white wine that is suitable to peel the enamel from your bicuspids, then this month’s Value Wine No. 1 is definitely worth checking out.   Not yet rated by the experts, past vintages of the Botteca Vinaia Trentino managed ratings in the mid-to-high 80’s, very respectable for a quality Italian white import.   This wine would definitely make a great summer sipper, with its balance yet refreshing acidity.   I recommend that you pick up a bottle or three!