Another candidate starting with a “P” has joined the Wine Snob Naughty Step as prosecco is regularly panned nowadays – alongside pinotage and pinot grigio.
In fairness, there is a point there.
The extension of the area entitled to use the prosecco name did bring in examples that are dull, unexceptional and lacking that important freshness.
And entry point price levels do seem to have more than their share of them.
So it was great to find (and feature) a £7.50 version that, to me, exemplifies what sound prosecco is all about.
It is as good a version at a modest price as I have seen this year.
Sticking in Italy (but going almost 1000km south), our red is also well worth seeking out.
It features a relatively little known grape variety with a quality potential that suggests its day in the sun is well overdue.
I hope you enjoy them both.
In the usual way, hyperlinks and pictures are used where possible to help you locate the bottle in question.
Straight into that prosecco then.
Corte Molino Prosecco (£7.50 – instead of £8.50 until 14 May – at the Co-op and 11% abv):
Quite a few inexpensive prosecco options are currently mundane and one-dimensional.
The result perhaps of demand exceeding supply having a predictable effect on quality.
However, this lovely award-winning example not only meets all my personal quality criteria but is exceptional value at this discounted price.
Despite its seemingly lazy bubbles, it has a surprisingly active mouthfeel, coupled with a carefully balanced creamy texture.
All that mingles agreeably with the wine’s soft apple, pear and ripe melon flavours that its sherbet acidity brings out nicely.
NB:- As this site’s comments section has recently underlined, the Co-op’s regional structure does mean that not all branches have all nationally publicised promotions.
Now for its companion red.
2022 Terre di Faiano Nero di Troia (£8 – instead of £9.50 until 14 May – at Sainsbury’s and 13.5%):
Possibly because of its low yields, this grape from Puglia (once called Uva di Troia) is not used as often as its quality justifies – but this example is terrific.
Make sure you try it before the current promotion ends next week.
Bold and organically produced, it has smooth mulberry, bramble and prune flavours.
Secondary influences include hints of vanilla, woodsmoke and walnut with well-balanced acidity (but firm tannin) supporting the whole package.
See you again on Thursday when I take a look at what I think are the best current High Street examples of “everyday” Bordeaux reds.
