I've never quite figured out what it is about Pinot Grigio that I don't "get." It's just not something I buy, but not because I don't like it. It is one of the most popular wines in America. Is my snub a subconscious rebellion against popular culture, or just a matter of taste?

When sampling this week's 2009 Pinot Grigio - my second selection from the Clos du Bois 2011 Spring Collection - I had an epiphany. Pinot Grigio is my version of a "lawnmower" wine.

So what does that mean in wine terms? In the beer world, it's something good to sip on after mowing the lawn. Nothing too high in alcohol, nothing with an astounding amount of strong characteristics, just something light, refreshing and a little mindless. For me, that's Pinot Grigio.

This realization came after I finished sipping my third glass on a lazy Sunday evening, almost involuntarily returning to the chilled bottle several times until it was almost drained. I'd gone through two whole glasses with nary a thought about flavors, colors, aromas or any other of the typical wine characteristics that a review normally covers. And honestly, that degree of thoughtlessness and lack of analysis was refreshing.

A lawnmower wine (or beer) is enjoyable and satisfying for its intended purpose, but in the context of a review, it's a pretty lousy candidate.

And instead of filling this post full of descriptions of the aroma, flavors or typical wine-speak, I'll just say that if you're looking for a decent white wine you don't have to think about, you'll probably be perfectly content with this $12 bottle.