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This article was published in The 30 Second Wine Advisor on Friday, May. 23, 2008 and can be found at http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor2/tswa20080523.php. Classy Soave
For a while there, Italy's Soave seemed to have fallen out of the ranks of "interesting" white wines, thanks primarily to an export market dominated by industrial-made, mass-market producers. But it's hard to keep a good wine down, and thanks to the efforts of quality producers like Gini, Pieropan and quite a few more, Soave has regained its place of pride on many wine enthusiasts' tables. Today's featured wine, from the tiny Veneto producer Agostino and Emanuele Vicentini and imported by the always-reliable John Given Wines Co., is a particularly stylish Soave. Made from a blend of 80 percent Soave's native Garganega grape and 20 percent Trebbiano di Soave, it blends classic Soave citrus and stone with warmer hints of tropical fruit in a complex and interesting mix.
Vicentini 2005 "Terre Lunghe" Soave ($13.99)Clear pale gold, bright glints against the light. Fresh tropical fruit, fig, date and pineapple aromas, more subtle than in-your-face but very pleasant. On the palate it's more about citrus, tangy but not tart, Meyer lemon and a streak of stony minerality that turns into a pleasant peach-pit bitter note in the finish. Complex and interesting, will reset your attitude if you think of Soave as a simple and one-dimensional white. U.S. importer: John Given Wines Co., Manhasset, N.Y. (March 5, 2008) FOOD MATCH: A versatile white-wine match with poultry, pork or fish, it was fine with a simple turkey stew. VALUE: A fine value in the lower teens; available in some markets for a dollar or two less. WHEN TO DRINK: Soave is best enjoyed while it's young and fresh. This 2005 is still fine, but it's not a candidate for the cellar. WEB LINK: FIND THIS WINE ONLINE: For more information about local distributors for John Given wines, contact the importer through this Website page: Talk About Wine OnlineIf you have questions, comments or ideas to share about today's article Everyone is free to browse. If you'd like to post a comment, question or reply, you must register, but registration is free and easy. Do take care to register using your real name, or as a minimum, your real first name and last initial. Anonymous registrations are quietly discarded. To contact me by E-mail, write wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit. PRINT OUT TODAY'S ARTICLE |