The Record:  "This is Pighin’s top-of-the-line Pinot Grigio. Pighin’s Collio (the Collio district of the Friuli region) Pinot Grigio exhibits an expressive nose, intensity and weight on the palate and distinctive mineral notes."   Apr 2007

Winery:  "Pighin Pinot Grigio del Collio is a wine which marries pronounced varietal intensity with exceptional purity of fruit. The aromatic, slightly spicy fragrance is marked by distinctive notes of acacia and hazelnuts, confirmed on the palate with elegant white fruit flavors, ending in a clean, fresh, delicate finish.

The Collio zone is Friuli's finest area of production, a gravelly amphitheater overlooking the Adriatic on the continuation of the foot of the Alps exposed directly to the south. It covers approximately 3,175 acres, 80 percent of which are cultivated in white vines. Azienda Fratelli Pighin is proprietor of an exceptional estate of 75 acres of vineyards in Collio in the province of Gorizia from which this distinctive Pinot Grigio is produced. The deep gravel soil and pronounced incline, enhanced by severe pruning, result in a yield of only two to 3.2 tons of fruit per acre. The grapes are hand harvested and immediately pressed in Bucher pneumatic presses and the must chilled and allowed to settle for 24 hours. A temperature-controlled fermentation is then carried out stainless steel tanks at 59 degree F over a period of two weeks. There is no malolactic fermentation or oak contact. The wine is then clarified under refrigeration, stabilized and filtered and kept in stainless steel storage tanks at a temperature of 50 degree F to retain the wine's freshness until bottling in late winter. "

Wired For Wine:  The great density and pure hit of white fruit of this estate-bottled Pighin Pinot Grigio make it an exceptional choice for many different eating and drinking situations.  It is an ideal apéritif, but will also go beautifully with a platter of most of your favorite antipasti, or appetizers which are on the lighter side.  We love it as a starter with a delicious bowl of grilled calamari,  or a refreshing salad with skinny green beans, lettuce, avocado and a lemon vinaigrette.  If you're having it with the entree, white fish, shellfish, and most seafood are terrific pairings with its clean, fresh finish, and solid mineral notes.  Thai mango shrimp is wonderful next to the white fruit flavors in the Pighin.  Another wonderful choice would be a big plate of linguini with a garlicky white clam sauce.  Don't forget to throw in some diced pancetta!  Or, if you've brought it in as the closer, we love it with a creamy, chalky French Crottin goat cheese.  Quando mangiamo?

Size:  750ml
Vintage:  2006
Varietal:  100% Pinot Grigio
Vinification:  fermented in stainless steel; no malolactic fermentation or oak contact
Alcohol:  12.5%
Region:  Collio, Friuli, northeast Italy