Estrella Pinot Grigio
Winery: Estrella River Winery, Napa, CA
Style: Dry White
Year: 2004
Price Range: 1.5 L- $8.99
Rating:8.5/10

The origin of this wine is a little vague. From what I can tell, Estrella is part of the Meridian brand. Chuck Ortman purchased the old Estrella River Winery in Paso Robles, and completely remodeled its natural stone buildings. There, he began to produce a variety of premium wines from vineyards located in Santa Barbara County, Edna Valley, and Paso Robles. Now for the hype; "What would inspire a veteran winemaker to leave the Napa and Sonoma valleys behind-and head for the sleepy town of Paso Robles? It was a unique opportunity to make memorable, premium wines from an emerging region-and to make a little history, too. "

Funny thing is that the Estrella label says Napa.

In any case, this is a very nice Pinot Grigio. Completely devoid of the funny after tastes very often associated with it's Italian budget priced counterparts, Estrella comes through with a fruity softness and, to my taste, the right balance of sweetness to acidity. Absolutely great for you who enjoy a refreshing white without that cloying over oakiness prevalent in jug Chardonnays. At $8.99 a mag, it's a steal.

Bubba