Ah, Soave. One of the magical wines that will pair with practically anything. When it's time for a basic white wine, I'm usually happy with something from Italy. The price is generally affordable, they're not hard to find, and make a nice change of pace from the usual Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. And because it's not something that's become hugely popular like Pinot Grigio, your guests or dinner companions get a chance to try something a little different but non-threatening. Here's a pair of wines I received recently from the Soave Consortium.
2009 Re Midas Soave100% Garganega
$10, 12% abv.
Light and mild, with a round mouthfeel and low acidity. Touch of pineapple and lemon on the nose, minerals on the aftertaste. The style of this wine is somewhat close to Pinot Grigio. Named after King Midas, the wine is packaged in a slightly odd bottle--not strange enough to call it a novelty like one of those VOGA bottles. The bottom is a little more narrow than a standard bottle, and it expands with a gentle curve up to the shoulders. And with the purple and gold color scheme, it seems like a great target for Lakers fans. Or perhaps more appropriately, for fans of the Los Angeles Kings.
I've reviewed this same vintage of Fattori Soave before, and the following is a rare repeated review:
2009 Fattori Giovanni Motto Piane Soave
100% Garganega
$15, 14% abv.
Tropical fruit, flowers, firmer, stronger, a touch of minerals, with a nice round mouthfeel. Fermented both in oak and stainless steel. Between the two, consider this one if you prefer bigger, bolder flavors, but it's still a relatively light wine. Pack it along with a picnic and I think that you'll find that it goes beautifully with cold fried chicken, potato salad, and other summertime delights.
Note: These wines were received as samples.
6 comments:
I think Soave has a bad reputation in the US because the first ones shipped from Italy were mostly made with Trebbiano. Now several producers craft delicious wines made with 100% Garganega. I found myself to prefer Garganega grown on volcanic soil, because it picks up a slight sulphuric note, like the Cà Rugate Monte Fiorentine.
There are some pretty amazing bottlings from Soave these days... Soave by definition is predominantly Garganega (wondering how to pronounce that?) with smaller amounts of Trebbiano allowed (to raise acidity). The Suavia wines are awesome but La Biancara by Angiolino Maule in Gambellara (the sister appellation) is my all-time fav.
B8wine & Jeremy,
Thanks for the comments, and I've always wished that these wines were more popular at parties and art galleries and other settings. Take a sour, over-oaked $10 Chardonnay versus a balanced and refreshing Soave at the same price. One of these days...
Cheers,
Benito
Jeremy, is La Biancara available in the US? Also, staying in the province of Verona, do you have any recommendation for a Lugana DOC?
Thanks, Nico
Nico,
You might want to get in touch with him via his Do Bianchi blog, as I'm not sure if he'll see your post or not, and I don't have an answer. :)
Cheers,
Benito
Will do. Thank you Benito!
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