With the rise and rise of prosecco, Italy’s other sparkling wines have been overshadowed.
Thus, only limited attention goes to classy Franciacorta (made using the traditional champagne methods remember) and to the impressive top-end versions of Asti Spumante.
But, today, we do go a step beyond prosecco to give fizz from another region some decent coverage.
It is a recent arrival in Majstic, and uses a grape variety few folk will have encountered.
My second featured wine is also about an offering currently receiving insufficient attention – sauvignon blanc from Bordeaux.
Not only is good sauvignon produced there but the region’s legendary blending skills allow other grape varieties to help make the resulting wine even better.
For an illustration of how well it works head to the first part of the main body of this post.
In the usual way, hyperlinks and pictures appear where possible to help you locate the bottle in question.
See those blending skills in action.
2021 CH Rousseau Bordeaux Sauvignon Semillon (£6.50 at Asda):
Bordeaux versions of sauvignon often score highly because (as here) semillon is blended in to create a richer wine than straight sauvignon would.
Textured, with a long finish, this example delivers restrained pear, melon and peach flavours.
These are then turbo-charged by citrus peel and grapefruit acidity within a smooth, clean, mildly savoury depth.
Next that Italian sparkler
Forchir Ribolla Gialla Spumante Brut (from £9.99 at Majestic):
Wine producers in Italy’s Friuli region (closer to the border with Slovenia than prosecco country) have, surely, been super-impressed by the success of prosecco.
So, here, they have used the region’s ribolla gialla grape (rather than glera) to develop a sparkling wine of their own.
This example is more savoury than prosecco – but less boisterous, with its initially exuberant bubbles quickly quietening down.
However, it does have a neat flavour range that contains unassuming red apple and tangerine constituents.
Lemon acidity, a cream soda mouthfeel and vaguely nutty finish all fall in behind them in supporting roles.
See you again on Thursday when I again put the spotlight on the wines of Aldi but focus on white wines this time – after October’s review of that retailer’s reds.
8 Responses
At a time of year when we’re bombarded with discounts on uninspiring bottles of prosecco I’m all for finding alternatives and this Ribolla Gialla Spumante looks promising Brian. I’ve been known to have a change with Sainsbury’s ThD Pignoletto too. But having just returned from Verona I have another alternative to recommend – Durello Spumante Brut. Durello (or Durella) is a local grape grown on the Lessini hills between Verona and Vicenza and makes a very dry, crisp and refreshing sparkling aperitif wine. We drank Bennati Monti Lessini D.O.C. Durello Spumante Brut (https://www.casavinicolabennati.com/en/annibale) but I see that Palladiano Durello Spumante Brut is available from a number or independents in the UK around £10 (e.g. https://ndjohn.co.uk/products/durello-spumante-brut-palladiano). Just need a major supermarket to show an interest now although I suspect current production levels might prohibit this?
I was lucky enough to spend some time in Emilia Romagna and enjoyed their Pignoletto sparkling white wine. Made the same way as Prosecco,but with a different grape- Grechetto.To me it had a crisper green apple flavour than most Prosecco.Sainsbury’s do a decent Pignoletto Brut at £8.
The white Bordeaux blend is a classic combination.I really like the blends that use more Semillon than usual.
Hi Brian. You’ve awoken memories of spending time in the 80s in the Piedmont, Alessandria, and being taken out on a Sunday morning for Asti Spumanti and cake! Classy the Italians and never quick to eschew their best traditions.
So more fizz, that I knew nothing about, with this offering from Friuli Venezia Giulia that sounds wonderful. I did some more research but apart from Majestic it is a bit rare!
However I need to stock up on some bubbles so I looked to see what my favourite Conegliano Prosecco was doing at Sainsbury’s and hey … they have a 25% off BUY 3 BOTTLES running on their Taste The Difference range until November 13th! We have to work so hard keeping abreast of these deals!
While I wait to find more Ribolla we can try Paul Davies suggestion of the Pignoletto for a mere £6 on this deal and not have to commit a lot of money should we not want to when it’s buy as little as 3 bottles.
And that Asda Bordeaux SB-Semillon I found to my taste as well. Unfortunately they seem not to have it online for me just now!
Best as ever …
At a time of year when we’re bombarded with discounts on uninspiring bottles of prosecco I’m all for finding alternatives and this Ribolla Gialla Spumante looks promising Brian. I’ve been known to have a change with Sainsbury’s ThD Pignoletto mentioned in the comments too. But having just returned from Verona I have another alternative to recommend – Durello Spumante Brut. Durello (or Durella) is a local grape grown on the Lessini hills between Verona and Vicenza and makes a very dry, crisp and refreshing sparkling aperitif wine. We drank Bennati Monti Lessini D.O.C. Durello Spumante Brut (https://www.casavinicolabennati.com/en/annibale) but I see that Palladiano Durello Spumante Brut is available from a number or independents in the UK around £10 (e.g. https://ndjohn.co.uk/products/durello-spumante-brut-palladiano). Just need now a major supermarket to show an interest although I suspect current production levels might prohibit this?
PS. I returned from Verona with a Friuli red wine made from Ribolla NERA, a grape now usually known by the charming name Schioppettino. Had a brief taste before purchase and it looks very promising.
A good steer you and Paul provide by mentioning that Pignoletto and, as you say, there are a number of creditable local sparkling wines in Italy that never make it to these shores.
Friuli is indeed a cruelly neglected wine area but is now being recognised for experimental winemaking instead of for the classy but relatively orthodox offerings of yesteryear.
Yes semillon does add nice style and depth to sauvignon but then also adding muscadelle can be a game changer too.
Good news about Taste the Difference promotion – it is a very sound range.
Hello Brian
Thanks for the tip
Asda store in Wrexham only stocks CH Rousseau Bordeaux white 2021 Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc-Muscadelle at £6.50.Looking forward to trying it out!