Full Review

Elementalist

Elementalist
2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Pasta

Category: Pinot Grigio

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$6.99
Best Buy

Elementalist
2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Pasta

Category: Pinot Grigio

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12%
Pale steely amber color. Aromas and flavors of peach cake, sweet banana, and hints of gooseberry with a round, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity light body and an even, refreshing, medium-long finish with notes of candied apricot, honey, and slate with no oak flavor. A round and pleasing Pinot Grigio.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth & Non-Oaky
Aroma Aroma: peach cake, sweet banana, and hints of gooseberry
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of candied apricot, honey, and slate
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: BBQ Chicken, Pad Thai Chicken, Chicken Fajitas
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A round and pleasing Pinot Grigio.

The Retailer

Aldi Inc.

The Retailer
1200 North Kirk Road
Batavia, IL 60510
USA
1 630-425-7394

Their Portfolio

92 3 REIN 2020 Never Tame Red Blend, Columbia Valley 13.2% (USA) $7.99.
88 30 Miles 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $14.99.
88 Bear Bros 2021 Rosé, Sonoma Coast 13% (USA) $7.99.
87 Bear Bros 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
93 Belletti NV Extra Dry, Prosecco DOC 11% (Italy) $9.99.
90 Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County 12% (USA) $6.99.
88 Flora & Stone 2021 Merlot, Mendocino County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
93 Holland Lager 1839 5.0% (Netherlands)
88 Holland Lager 1839 5% (Netherlands)
88 Hopping Nomad Session IPA 4.5% (USA)
92 Independence Harbor Amber Ale 5.5% (USA)
92 Locken’s Tropical Pineapple Kolsch 4.5% (USA)
91 Maguires Draught Stout 4.2% (USA)
87 Merchants Keep IPA 6% (USA)
89 Outlander 2019 Meritage, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $7.99.
89 Peaks & Tides 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $11.99.
88 Peaks & Tides 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.9% (USA) $12.99.
93 Peaks & Tides 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $11.99.
87 Peaks & Tides 2021 Chardonnay, Sonoma County 13.8% (USA) $9.99.
88 Peaks & Tides 2021 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County 14.2% (USA) $12.99.
88 Peaks & Tides 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County 13.8% (USA) $9.00.
87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Blend, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
88 Sargent Canyon 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
87 Scarlet Path 2020 Zinfandel, Lodi 13.8% (USA) $8.99.
90 Shuteye Peak Pale Ale 5.6% (USA)
88 Specially Selected 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $14.99.
91 Specially Selected NV Brut Rosé, France 11.5% (France) $10.99.
90 Specially Selected NV Brut, Cremant d’Alsace 12% (France) $14.99.
87 Specially Selected 2021 Chianti Riserva DOCG 13.5% (Italy) $7.99.
87 State of Brewing Pumpkin Pie Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
87 State of Brewing Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter 6% (USA)
88 State of Brewing Pumpkin Ale 6% (USA)
87 Tailslide 2021 Pinot Noir, California 13.7% (USA) $6.99.
93 Vve Monsigny NV Brut, Champagne 12% (France) $19.99.
92 Wernesgrüner Brauerei Pils Legende 4.9% (Germany)
90 White Tide Belgian White Ale 5.4% (USA)
87 Wicked Grove Pearsecco Bubbly Dry Cider 5% (USA) $7.99.
92 Wicked Grove Hard Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
87 Wicked Grove Black Cherry Imperial Cider 8% (USA) $9.99.
88 Wicked Grove Pearsecco Bubbly Dry Cider 5% (USA) $8.99.
88 Wild Range IPA 6.9% (USA)
92 Wild Range Hazy IPA 6.9% (USA)
89 William Wright 2020 Reserve Lot, Pinot Noir, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 William Wright 2020 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
87 William Wright 2021 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.

Pinot Grigio

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Pinot Grigio – aka Pinot Gris – has become one of Italy’s most popular white wines in America. Popular to the point of Indian, Greek and even Spanish restaurants offering at least one version on their wine list.

Truth be told, while Pinot Grigio in Italy can be an excellent wine – though hardly great – the typical version has little to offer save for some faint aromas of apple, pear and dried flowers. As Pinot Grigio has become a commodity, there are now hundreds, perhaps thousands of producers across Italy (and even some in America) that produce a simple, uncomplicated version that has little complexity or weight on the palate- the ultimate summer sipper.

However, producers in cool climates such as Friuli, Alto Adige and Valle d’Aosta (where it is usually referred to as Pinot Gris) do make excellent version, generally from high elevation vineyards that have twenty or more years of age. These wines have plenty of spice as well as richness and offer impressive complexity. Pair these finer examples with vegetable or seafood risotto, lighter poultry or pork medallions.

Top Rated for
Pinot Grigio

Cielo 2024 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
93 POINTS
Cielo 2024 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
12% $9.00.
Italy
Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario
93 POINTS
Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario
12% $10.00.
Canada
Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy
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Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy
12% $11.00.
Italy
Tar & Roses 2021 Pinot Grigio, King Valley
93 POINTS
Tar & Roses 2021 Pinot Grigio, King Valley
13.8% $14.99.
Australia
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
92 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
13% $13.00.
Australia
Cupcake 2022 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
91 POINTS
Cupcake 2022 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
12.5% $13.00.
Italy
Benvolio 2023 Pinot Grigio, Friuli IGT
90 POINTS
Benvolio 2023 Pinot Grigio, Friuli IGT
12.5% $10.00.
Italy
Rewild NV Pinot Grigio, Murray-Darling
90 POINTS
Rewild NV Pinot Grigio, Murray-Darling
12.5% $13.00.
Australia
Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County
90 POINTS
Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County
12% $6.99.
USA
Blue Bin 2023 Pinot Grigio, California
89 POINTS
Blue Bin 2023 Pinot Grigio, California
12.5% $14.00.
USA
Blue Bin 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
89 POINTS
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12.5% $15.00.
USA
Taylors 2023 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
88 POINTS
Taylors 2023 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
13% $13.00.
Australia
Trojan Horse 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
88 POINTS
Trojan Horse 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
11% $7.00.
USA

Best Buys for
Pinot Grigio

Cielo 2024 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
93 POINTS
Cielo 2024 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
12% $9.00.
Italy
Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario
93 POINTS
Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario
12% $10.00.
Canada
Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy
93 POINTS
Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy
12% $11.00.
Italy
Tar & Roses 2021 Pinot Grigio, King Valley
93 POINTS
Tar & Roses 2021 Pinot Grigio, King Valley
13.8% $14.99.
Australia
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
92 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
13% $13.00.
Australia
Cupcake 2022 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
91 POINTS
Cupcake 2022 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC
12.5% $13.00.
Italy
Benvolio 2023 Pinot Grigio, Friuli IGT
90 POINTS
Benvolio 2023 Pinot Grigio, Friuli IGT
12.5% $10.00.
Italy
Rewild NV Pinot Grigio, Murray-Darling
90 POINTS
Rewild NV Pinot Grigio, Murray-Darling
12.5% $13.00.
Australia
Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County
90 POINTS
Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County
12% $6.99.
USA
Blue Bin 2023 Pinot Grigio, California
89 POINTS
Blue Bin 2023 Pinot Grigio, California
12.5% $14.00.
USA
Blue Bin 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
89 POINTS
Blue Bin 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
12.5% $15.00.
USA
Taylors 2023 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
88 POINTS
Taylors 2023 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia
13% $13.00.
Australia
Trojan Horse 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
88 POINTS
Trojan Horse 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
11% $7.00.
USA
Kirkland Signature 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
88 POINTS
Kirkland Signature 2022 Pinot Grigio, California
11.5% $12.00.
USA