Call me crazy, but when I tasted the Lis Neris Pinot Grigio recently, I picked up serious White Chateauneuf vibes. I know it sounds nuts, but I just call it like I taste it, and I am confident with my call on this one.
And at just $23.99/bottle (no further discounts), it offers a ton of value for money!
As I started digging into the wine, it all started making sense. Lis Neris is one of Friuli’s benchmark estates, and their vineyards are strewn with sun-warmed stones known locally as claps. Sounds a bit like the rounded galets roulés you find in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Terroir matters, folks. A lot! These stones provide excellent drainage while releasing stored warmth back into the vineyards overnight, encouraging full ripening and giving the wine serious depth and power.
Needless to say, this is not your typical Pinot Grigio. It is richer, more powerful, and more flavor-packed than just about any version of Pinot Grigio I’ve tasted in years. Flowing with layered notes of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, chamomile, crushed stone, and a distinct sun-baked mineral character, there is serious depth and texture here.
The fruit feels broad and layered on the palate, with richness and texture that I just don’t normally associate with Pinot Grigio. Yet it never feels heavy or overdone. Full-bodied and mouth-filling, it finishes long with notes of ripe pear, yellow apple, crushed stone, and savory herbs.
If you think Pinot Grigio is simple, light, and forgettable, this wine is going to change your mind in a hurry. Get some! :)
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
