3 Blind Moose - Pinot Grigio @@@ (3 Corks)

Retails: ? Gift (assured it was under $10) from Publix

2 1/2 years ago I had the extraordinary good fortune of being hired at one of the premier tourism publishers in the USA. From its crayola-box colored walls to its casual office environment, I couldn't have picked a more suitable work environment for yours truly.

I had original applied to this company as a web editor, a position that had been filled by the time I applied. Due to my semester's worth of video production experience in college, our fabulous HR recruiter steered me towards a burgeoning video production team capturing the best of Florida and beyond--all while riding around on a giant, colorful RV.

For over a year, I traveled from the panhandle to the Keys capturing all of the best hotels, delectable eats, exciting attractions and beautiful vistas Florida has to offer. Everywhere we went, we were treated like rock stars. Free meals at 5-star restaurants. Free theme park tickets. Meeting celebrities. Chillin' out in penthouse suites perched high above the sands of some of the best beaches in the country. How dreamy!

Eventually, and perhaps surprisingly, the constant instability of being gone a minimum of two weeks per month, was too much to deal with. My rock-star treatment had caused me to gain almost 20 pounds due to the lack of a regular fitness regimen and noshing on 5-star meals late at night. I know most of you are shaking your heads at me right now, but at some point in the 200 or so videos we produced, I got bored. I became disenchanted with road life and couldn't wait for a regular schedule...

...and the dawning of a "normal" office job again.
I know, ridiculous, right? Road life was not a permanent fixture for me. And so, for the past year-plus, I've been an office rat--again by a shear miracle that a job as "coordinator" of our exciting video production team became available. I am a cubicle monkey...and I can't say that I'm mad.

One thing that's been a huge plus is getting to know people in the office. It was an odd experience being a part of the elusive "Open Florida crew." (yeah, that's what we were called). People knew who we were, we were plastered all over one particular client's website, but I had no idea who the other people were in the office. My crew was like family, but I still feel weird that there are particular people that I've communicated with via email who I wouldn't recognize on the street (or in the office kitchen).
Two of these lovelies are the heroines of www.sillygoosetravel.com --- an artist from our creative department and a (former) writer from our editorial department. They have graciously given me a recurring guest spot on their blog, and I in return.
On one of my excursions to Total Wine, I came across a wine branded none other than SILLY GOOSE. I promptly purchased it for my silly goose girlie in creative---her guest blog should be up, erm, some day.

As a gift, she presented me with this lovely bottle under $10 in return. I have previously reviewed a red by 3 Blind Moose and I was presently surprised by this white. Fruity, crisp and deliciously aromatic, 3 Blind Moose triumphs again with an enjoyable white that is perfect for every-day drinking (OK, I understand that SOME don't have wine everyday, but I do---hey, it's good for your heart and psyche)! It's a beautiful wine to pour, golden in color, if you intend to serve it at a gathering, your guests will delight in its clarity and sunny radiance.
Enjoy!

Target Wine Cube - Pinot Grigio @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Target)

My name is roxy.cape and I LOVE this wine-in-a-box.

I went into this with absolutely no expectations. I've never had wine-in-a-box, never thought to even attempt to consume a wine that comes from a box. Don't get me wrong, I adore Target for its inexpensively priced, quality goods--there's a SuperTarget right by my work and I have to admit, 90% of my wardrobe comes from its racks---and I consider myself a relatively fashionable person--No, scratch that, I AM a fashionable person. Boo-yah.

However, I had no intention of liking this wine. At all. I figured the true test of this brand of box-o'-wine would be to try one of their white wines---as we all know, I'm notoriously apprehensive about non-reds.

I'm completely drinking my words. This Pinot Grigio is light but not flavorless. It is a total-mouth experience, attacking the palette with an intensity usually reserved for red wines. There's a presence of dryness in the finish that isn't overpowering but merely serves to cap-off your senses' experience in this box-o-wine exploit.

Essence of honey and apricot lingers on the tongue. My only complaint is the acidity-- it's a little too much for my taste, but this is an attribute that I typically associate with white wines to begin with---too much acidity. As much as this could be a red wine drinkers' white, white wine drinkers won't be disappointed either.

For the price, you can't beat it. Within this compact cube you get the equivalent of two bottles of wine. TWO. The spout doesn't drip and it occupies a nominal amount of space within your fridge (as you can see, it snuggles easily with my coffee creamer and orange juice). If you're having a large group of people over, this is a really inexpensive yet satisfying wine to serve.

Final Word: Consider me converted!

La Delizia - Pino Grigio / Pino Blanc @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

As many of you know, I'm not much of a white wine drinker. When I do consume a white wine, it's typically some sort of dessert wine like a Riesling or a muscat. But, to be fair to all wine drinkers out there, I'm trying to venture out and educate myself in the ways of whites.

I was not aware but apparently pino is French for pinecone. Granted, my French heritage is Quebecoise, but, nonetheless, I'm surprised by the translation. This word relates to the way in which the grapes grow, much like a pinecone in a triangular formation--"classic grape" as I'd like to call it. The French will call this same varietal pinot gris while the Italians translate it as "grigio." They are rather poetic in their nomenclature, aren't they? Maybe just hammered...

A delicate aroma wafts up from the bottle as soon as you uncork it. To me, it smells like bathroom cleaner. Not. Gonna. Lie. But, I find this white to be a pleasant surprise. The flavor is almost flowery in your mouth. I feel as if I've taken a sip of lavender, not nectar, straight-up flower petals. The taste drifts to the back of the tongue, like a ballet dancer flitting across the stage and pique-ing her delicate foot upon the taste buds in the back of my mouth. The aftertaste is a delicately dry pirouette to finish. Cheeks slightly puckered, nostrils ouvert as the slightly acidic smell lingers.

Final Word: Lovely.