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Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry NV

Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry

From Mionetto’s Luxury Collection, the Cartizze DOCG Dry NV is produced from select grapes grown along the steepest hillsides of the Valdobbiadene. The color of onion skin, it offers up an elegant, tender nose of yellow apple, d’Anjou pear, almond pastry, granulated honey, wet porcelain clay, and citrus blossom. Cascading, voluminous bubbles lead into a […]

Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry NV

Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry NV

A more serious offering form Mionetto, the Prosecco DOC Extra Dry is convivial and ebullient with classic aromas of baked apple and poached pear that sink into more complex tones of honeycomb, orange zest, and autolytic notes. In the mouth, lively acidity and a brisk torrent of bubbles add lift to orchard fruit and lengthy, […]

Castel Sallegg Lagrein 2018

Castel Sallegg Lagrein 2018

An attractive mélange of earthiness and floral tones—rose petals and lilac bush layered on top of briary red berries, mulberries, plum, sandalwood, toasty oak, and spice. In the mouth, it’s rounder and more concentrated than some cool-climate examples of the variety I’ve sampled. The profile on the palate echoes the nose with sweet red and […]

Bollicini Sparkling Trio NV

Bollicini Sparkling Trio

Sparkling Cuvée NV Straw-hued and gently sparkling, Bollicini’s Sparkling Cuvée is the latest in a trio of canned wines I’ve received to evaluate. And while not complex, this undisclosed blend of “Italian white varietals” has plenty of charm—orchard fruit, apples, white peaches, and pears and acacia honey are in abundance with a touch of lemon […]

Bertani Bertarose Chiaretto 2018

Bertani Bertarose Chiaretto 2018

Delicate salmon pink and svelte, the nose of Bertani’s 2018 Bertarose Rosé is quite mineral-driven—wet stones and alpine air cascade beneath citrusy aromas of blood orange, melon, and golden raspberry. Fruit notes are more pronounced on the palate with red berries and tons of pink pomelo fleshing out the core. It’s delicate and ends with […]

Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio Villalta 2017

Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio Villalta 2017

From fruit grown in high altitude vineyards in Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia the 2017 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio is a solid performer for its price point. Straw-hued, its aromas are a refreshing mix of Bosc pear, white peach, lemon drop, and pineapple skin. On the palate, there’s appealing texture on the fore and […]

Castello di Monsanto Monrosso Toscana IGT 2016

Castello di Monsanto Monrosso Toscana IGT 2016

Like breathing in the Italian countryside in mid-summer—the 2016 Monrosso Tuscan Red Blend IGT displays dusty earth, leather, dried mushroom, and mountain herbs. Composed of 60% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 3% Sangiovese, the fruit notes seem rather secondary here, and emerge more on the palate than the nose—a melange of black cherry […]

La Marca Luminore Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV

La Marca Luminore Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV

Sun-dappled and clinquant as its name suggests, a fine net of bubbles wells up from the core of La Marca’s aptly named Luminore Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore. Delicate aromas of d’Anjou pear, white peach, granulated honey, parchment, and linden blossom wink in and out of focus. Crisp and vibrant on the palate, it lacks the […]

Mionetto Il Prosecco N.V.

Mionetto Il Prosecco N.V.

The color of sun-bleached straw, Mointetto’s charming non-vintage Il Prosecco is delicately embroidered with notes of granulated honey, dewy orchard pear, spring flowers, and chamomile. Expect a soft, unobtrusive mousse held aloft by a bright acid vein that courses through this crisp and inexpensive Italian bubbly. 6% g/l RS, 11.0% ABV | Sample Mionetto 88 […]

Altemasi Trento Brut NV

Altemasi Trento Brut

A genial sparkling chardonnay from the Trentodoc, the Altemasi Méthodo Classico Brut has an aromatic profile yellow apples and pears, white flowers, and lemon curd. It’s crisp on the palate, with brisk, cascading bubbles and linear acidity. Lemon pith and wet shell at the close. 12.5% ABV | Sample Altemasi 88 Points

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com