Since I became interested in wine, I think I've had a grand total of 2 Pinot Grigios. I used to drink it all the time, as it was a dry, innocuous white that is easily glugged and won't clash with your chips, burger or whatever it is you are eating (if anything) in the pub. Then I discovered Sauvignon Blanc, Alsace, Riesling, and all sorts of other white wine novelties. Pinot Grigio quickly fell off the radar.I do like a dry Italian white with some of the food I make at home though, so I'm always on the lookout for a decent, everyday-drinking type wine. We tried the Dino Sangiovese a while back, and figured that it was an OK deal (on offer). So I saw this white was on offer for 2 for £8 so I thought I would give it a try.
First of all, I don't think it's very good. It tastes like a cheap white. A bit fruity but a bit rough, you know the type that needs to be chilled to almost freezing to make it taste half-decent. I don't think I would buy it again on offer, let alone for the full price of around £8.
Then I looked up the wine on Tesco's website. Either there are two different Pinot Grigios for sale under the Dino name, or someone has made a mistake. The only Dino Pinot Grigio wine on the website is called "Dino Pinot Grigio Valdadige DOC", which would indicate that it is a DOC certified wine from the Trentino – Alto Adige region in Northern Italy. However, the actual label on the bottle says "Dino Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT", which I think just means "from north east Italy", specifically the regions Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
I don't know if this is mistake or not...it could be that Tesco does sell the DOC wine, and it just happens to be on offer as well, and they don't sell the IGT one online. I reckon it's a screw up though, just because it's Tesco and it's a pretty crap website.
Dino
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2008 IGT
Venezie, Italy
Tesco
£4.00 (when you but 2)
2.5/5
Posts
Tesco are now doing the 2009 on 'special' at £4.49 (also the Sangiovese). Like you I'd had the red and we're just trying the Grigio - indeed it is an IGT but it's not too bad. Maybe the 2009 is a bit better. The red isn't too bad either - a light red with little bitterness. But neither are worth the £9.49 they are sold for when not on one of these so-called 'offers'.
ReplyDeleteMarc
Hi Marc,
ReplyDeleteTesco can be a bit hit and miss with their offers. I find the ones they advertise most blatantly are the most disappointing. However, if you dig deep into the offers on their website, or make sure you check the offers on the shelves regularly, you will unearth some gems.
I used to work very close to a Tesco, so always had my finger on the pulse, but I've moved offices so no longer...:-(
Tim
Just bought another couple of the Dino whites at £4.49 - well my wife thinks it's OK. But last week there was a gem at Tesco - the Isla Negra cabernet from Chile, again 'half price' at £4.49. By far the best budget red I've had for a long time and I had to struggle not to go over my self-imposed half bottle daily limit. Needless to say, there were none left today at Tesco which is why I ended up with the Dinos. Also, given the earthquake, there may well be a premium on Chilean wines soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Marc,
ReplyDeleteIsla Negra eh? I remember having a Isla Negra rosé once, and really liking it. I wondered if it was a fluke or maybe just a good producer. I'll have to try the red then I think...:-)
ha ha. isla negra is only worth about 4 quid anyway... the offers are all scams... you just don't know who to trust these days...
ReplyDelete