Tasting Notes: 2012 Sutter Home Pink Pinot Grigio

Appearance: Pours an almost transparent peachy pink.  After swirling, you get a film which seems to pool down the glass, rather than legs that run.

Aroma:  Slight peach and stone fruit, with a sharp acidity (lemon and grapefruit).

Mouthfeel:  Light on the tongue, although a little bit of a syrupy feel after it goes down.

Flavors:  Definitely heavy on the peach.  Also get a little bit of melon, kiwi, and a touch of strawberry.  The citrus notes from the nose are absent, although it finishes with an acidity which leaves the mouth watering.  A lingering finish of peach, and the strawberry becomes more prominent in the finish than it was on the palate.

Overall:  This is, I guess, what you would expect from a pink wine from Sutter Home.  Like other low-end pink pinot grigios I've tried, it is interesting how different it is from a traditional pinot grigio.  The flavors and the mouth feel both have a definite sweetness to them which white pinot grigios lack.  While hardly complex or refined, the flavors are pleasant, and I would consider drinking this again on a hot summer day, as it is a refreshing, easy drinking wine.

Tasting Notes: Rex Goliath Pink Pinot Grigio

Appearance:  Pours a light peach/orange color, as one would expect from a "pink" or orange pinot grigio.  When agitated, it leaves a film, but it doesn't really streak down the glass as much as it pools its way down toward the liquid.

Aroma:  I get peaches, slightly underripe strawberries, and a touch of ethyl alcohol.

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied while you drink it, but a definite syrupy residue when you're done.  A little heat in the finish.

Flavors:  Interesting.  I get a slight peaches and cream flavor, with again the underripe berries (this time strawberries and raspberries).  A definite alcohol/solvent flavor, and that is what lingers for me.

Overall:  While the legendary 47 pound rooster may love this wine, I'm not crazy about it.  The sweetness, high alcohol (for a sweet wine), and slight acidity don't really blend together or balance each other so much as they seem to butt up against each other.  Definitely feels more "jumbled" than complex to me.  Probably not a wine I would buy again, even at its very reasonable ($5ish) price.

Tasting Notes: "Stella Pink" from Stella Rosa

Appearance:  Pours a very dark, hazy pink, almost like a pink lemonade color, but darker.  A little bit of effervescence.  A little bit of leg going on, and very slow to move down the side of the glass.

Aroma:  I get a little bit of red fruit, but also a definite tartness, and a hint of alcohol that surprised me for a 5% wine.

Mouthfeel:  Light while you're drinking it, but definitely leaves some syrupy body behind.

Flavors:  Sweet.  I get a little peach, raspberry, etc.  Almost like a peach melba flavor going on.  A touch of strawberries, and definitely a bit of acidity up front as well, although it finishes very sweet, almost like strawberry syrup (think Nesquik).

Overall:  Pretty much what you'd expect for a $5ish, 5% ABV pink wine.  A little too sweet for everyday drinking, or drinking with food.  Not very refined or delicate.  But, not terrible either.  And at $5 and 5%, this is a pretty drinkable treat for a hot, outdoor drinking session in the sun.  More like dessert or candy than wine, though.

Tasting Notes: Barefoot Refresh "Perfectly Pink" Rose

Appearance: Pours a light, almost peachy/orangish pink.  Almost has a slight effervescence in the glass.  No legs.

Aroma:  Slightly sweet, peachy, but a little citrus as well.

Mouthfeel:  Light at first, but leaves a bit of a syrupy film behind.  Also get a little of the effervescence on the palate that I saw in the glass.

Flavors:  Sweet.  Lots of peach, a hint of strawberry and raspberry.  Tastes kind of like a peach flavored hard candy.

Overall:  For being a "new" wine from barefoot, this is pretty much the stereotypical California pink wine.  Which I guess could be good or bad.  It is sweet and slightly syrupy, low alcohol (just under 10%), and light bodied.  Very drinkable.  The kind of wine that gave "white zin" and "blush" wines a bad name in the U.S. wine market, but also got a lot of working and middle class people drinking wine.  For $8 a bottle, it's not terrible if you're looking for dessert or something incredibly drinkable on a warm summer day, but don't expect anything too complex or elegant from this one.

Tasting Notes: Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Appearance: Very light, white-ish, a touch of green.  Poured almost effervescent, with bubbles rising as it poured.  No legs when swirled.

Aroma: Mild, but a touch of lemon and grapefruit.

Mouthfeel: Light, rolls right off the tongue, but not as light as some pinot grigios.

Flavor: A little more fruit than I was expecting from a pinot grigio.  A bit of lemon, also a little bit of peach, not as much minearlity as I was expecting, and actually slightly sweet.  Finishes with a slight alcohol flavor, and a little bit creamy.  Not a sharp, crisp finish, but also doesn't linger.

Overall: Interesting wine.  Not as awful as I was expecting for something under $6.  In fact, I actually kind of liked it.  Definitely not true to the pinot grigio varietal though.  Although lighter than a chardonnay, it was not as light or drinkable as most pinot grigios.  Instead of the rich, mineral notes, it had a lot of fruit, and was actually slightly sweet.  Personally, I love pinot grigio with food, but usually find it a little too light and kind of boring on its own.  This wine would probably not pair well with typical pinot grigio pairings, but is actually kind of enjoyable on its own.  Definitely not the greatest wine, but for a $6 bottle from Barefoot, not the worst either.