2006 Pinot Grigio

The 2006 Pinot Grigio reveals lovely, perfumed aromatics, sweet fruit and soft, round texture, with excellent length as well as balance. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2009. Silvio Jermann was among the early leaders in the move towards high quality wines in Friuli. His Vintage Tunina, a field blend of late-harvested fruit, was a trail blazing wine in the 1980s even if today it is not always as outstanding as it used to be. Jermann has finally finished construction of what can only be described as a massive, cavernous cellar in Ruttars, the source of the fruit for his Capo Martino and Pignolo. The estate makes a set of entry-level varietal wines as well as its top bottlings, most of which are blends. Jermann appears to have been more successful with his whites in 2004 and 2006. His 2005s seem to lack body as well complexity. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900.