The 2010 Pinot Grigio is quite attractive in this vintage. It isn’t the biggest or richest wine in the lineup, rather the 2010 impresses for its layered fruit and fine overall harmony. I admire the sense of restraint. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. Villa Russiz appears to be in transition at the moment, after the departure of longtime winemaker Gianni Menotti over the summer. Hopefully things will settle down. The estate is run by a non-profit organization, and my feeling has long been that the potential of these vineyards in the heart of the Collio has yet to fully be realized.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2008 Pinot Grigio is one of the more delineated, crisp wines in this line up. A gorgeous, well-articulated bouquet leads to layers of expressive varietal fruit as the Pinot Grigio opens up in the glass. The finish is long, pure and refined. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Gianni Menotti makes some of the richest, most fully-flavored wines readers will come across in Friuli. The entry-level 2008 whites appear to be excellent across the board, but it is the 2006 Merlot Graf de La Tour that steals the show among these new releases.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

This Pinot Grigio is distinguished by good structure and strong alcohol. The wine delivers aromas of stone fruit, lemon zest and honeydew melon and all this fruit freshness is backed by a smooth, warming texture.——M.L.(11/1/2010)—— 87

The 2007 Pinot Grigio is well made but offers very little in the way of varietal aromas and flavors and shows the heaviness that is typical of the estate’s wines in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. Villa Russiz is one of Friuli’s top estates, but this is an uneven set of releases owing to the challenges of the 2007 vintage. The whites in particular show the unfocused aromatics and overly heavy quality which is common in this vintage.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900