|
Here's a one-word wine prescription to cure what ails you if you've been feeling snobbish lately: Prosecco. This modestly priced if rarely exalted sparkling wine from Northeastern Italy's Veneto region between Venice and Trieste is rapidly gaining popularity for two very good reasons: It's affordable, and it's good. That's reason enough to go get some, uncork it, and take the rest of the day off. But before we do, let's stop for a moment for a quick but important lesson in challenging the conventional wine wisdom.
But then there's Prosecco. Low-cost, mass-produced, made not in the bottle but by the often-maligned Charmat process, which may mockingly be defined as "individually fermented in this great honkin' vat." No wonder it generally sells for $10 or so and rarely crosses the $20 line, while that hand-made Champagne starts in the upper $20s and rapidly heads upward from there. The key to Prosecco's popularity may lie in a consistently fresh, clean character that belies its humble production method. While I wouldn't make the foolish claim that Prosecco could stand side-by-side comparison with a great Champagne on the basis of subtlety or finesse, I do find that I'm turning more and more to the Italian option when I want something fun and fizzy. Compared with Spanish Cavas, American low-end bubbly or any other sparkling wine in its price niche, Prosecco scores for me with a wine that's consistently crisp, fresh and clean.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! I hope you'll take the time to participate. The voting procedure is quick and simple, and there's no need to go through the easy registration process unless you wish to join in the discussion after you vote (which, of course, I hope you will).
If "Today's Poll: Best cheap fizz" does not appear as a hotlink above in your E-mail, you can find the poll toward the lower-right corner of the WineLovers Community front page,
PRINT OUT TODAY'S ARTICLE
This is a clear, straw-color wine with a lasting stream of pinpoint bubbles. Citric and delicately floral aromas of lemon-lime and citrus blossoms lead into a rich mouthfeel with good body and creamy carbonation; clean citrus flavors follow the nose. It's not overly long, but the finish remains clean and crisp, a rare and admirable thing in a modest sparkler. U.S. importer: Martin Scott Wines Ltd., Lake Success, N.Y. (March 13, 2006) FOOD MATCH: Good bubbly goes with just about everything, and this one was fine with a moderately hot-and-spicy asparagus and tofu stir-fry scented with toasted Sichuan pepper. VALUE: While there's a lot of $10 Prosecco around, you can expect those from Conigliano and Valddobbiadene to command a few dollars more; no complaints at this mid-teens price, particularly when you comparison shop with Champagne. WHEN TO DRINK: Freshness is a virtue in Prosecco: Drink it young. Note also that non-vintage product can be a fooler, so shop at merchants you trust, and don't be shy about asking how long a bottle has been on the shelf.
PRONUNCIATION:
WEB LINK:
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:  Winebuys.com: Le Winebuys Guy très grand French Wine Sale!
Winebuys.com Celebrates Paris in the Springtime with ...
YOUR FIRST ORDER SHIPS FREE! All wines up to 50% off every day • 100% Love-It-Or-Your-Money-Back-Guarantee
Marquis de Chasse 2003 Bordeaux Reserve Blanc
Domaine la Roquette 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape
Meyer-Fonné 2003 Tokay Pinot Gris Reserve Particulière
See all Wine from France - ON SALE NOW!
See all New Arrivals
Shop Winebuys.com
SUBSCRIBE: Administrivia To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, or for any other administrative matters, please use the individualized hotlink found at the end of your E-mail edition. If this is not practical, contact me by E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com, including the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so I can find your record. We do not use our E-mail list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail address to anyone. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. To contact me, please send E-mail to wine@wineloverspage.com All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
|
Vincenzo Toffoli Conigliano-Valddobbiadene Prosecco ($14.99)
