Wine Review: Funky Llama Pinot Grigio 2008

Stopping at the local Wine's & Spirit's store the other day had me finding a new brand of wine to try. A sale sign struck my fancy and thus I purchased a bottle of Funky Llama 2008 Pinot Grigio for $5.99 for a 750ML bottle. I did not have a chance to drink any of it until the weekend after having a rather disappointing trip out to a local restaurant. Funky Llama did brighten up the evening after the restaurant disappointed. It does not, however, get a 5 star review.

After the restaurant disappointed, my significant other and I, decided to come home, grab a bottle of wine and head to the beach to sit under the stars and "just be" without the kids for a little while. Neither of us had tried Funky Llama before and were unsure of if we would like it. The bottle is sleek with a bold yellow label and black iconic Llama. On the sides of the front label is where the wine is from and the alcoholic volume. For Funky Llama's Pinot Grigio it is 12.5% alcohol by volume for 750ML. The back label describes the choosing of the Llama as the icon for the wine label because it represents the land the wine is from as an "expression of purity". Here is the scale I rated the wine on:

Smell: 4 stars
After uncorking the wine, the first thing I always do with any wine is to smell it. Funky Llama's Pinot Grigio had a smell that was inviting, fruity and sweet. The smell alone made me want to try a sip. However, it had to pass the color test.

Sight: 4 stars
Pinot Grigio wines should be light to dark golden in color depending on where the wine was made. Pinot Grigio's are made from white grape varieties thought to be a mutant version of Pinot Noir grapes. Funky Llama's pinot grigio is a light golden yellow color that you can almost see through. This color held up to moonlight looked like it sparkled and led to me wanting to take a sip.

Taste: 4 stars from me, 1 stars from my significant other
I enjoyed the smooth, dry and fruity pear taste of Funky Llama's pinot grigio. However, my significant other did not like it at all. He prefers white zinfandel's or reisling wines to pinot grigio's. I normally prefer red wine varieties but the night was suitable for this white wine. I would drink it again. My significant other decided that he just didn't like it. He may or may not want to try any other version of Funky Llama. He said that this wine, "left a bad taste in my mouth." I, on the other hand, thought it was good and said, "well... more for me!"