BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

86
Bersano 2011 Monteolivo Moscato
d’Asti. For full review see page 11. Best Buy.
abv: 5% Price: $11
86
Bersano 2011 San Michele (Moscato
d’Asti). Loaded with honey, marzipan, peach
and exotic fruit, this special expression of Moscato
d’Asti delivers a thick, creamy feel in the mouth with
foamy mousse and soapy intensity. Pair this with sugary
almond cookies. Vin Divino. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $12/500 ml
86
Castello del Poggio 2011 Moscato d’Asti.
This foamy Moscato d’Asti opens with bright
aromas of tangerine flower, dried ginger, acacia flower
and honey. The softly bubbly wine shows sweetness
followed by a crisp accent on the finish. Zonin USA.
—M.L.
abv: 5% Price: $16
86
Duchessa Lia 2011 Moscato d’Asti. This
sweet sparkling wine shows a steady, creamy
texture with tangerine mousse, wild flower, honey,
peach blossom and soapy foam. The long sweet finish
would match well with baked apricot pie. Italian Wine
Growers. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $18
86
Tenimenti Ca’ Bianca 2011 Moscato
d’Asti. This bright Moscato d’Asti opens with
full, generous tones of peach, honey, acacia blossom,
jasmine and freshly peeled tangerine skin. The rich and
foamy mouthfeel would pair with soft cheese on dry rye
crackers. Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 5% Price: $15
86
Villa Lanata 2011 Cardinale Lanata
(Moscato d’Asti). The cardinal rules of
Moscato d’Asti are frothy mousse, fragrant floral aromas
and a simple mouthfeel. Cardinale Lanata follows them
all and this bright dessert wine would pair with pastries
or meringues. W.J. Deutsch & Sons. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $17
85
Arbiola 2010 Ferlingot (Moscato d’Asti).
Fragrant and foamy, this soft and plush Moscato
d’Asti opens with orange blossom, honeysuckle and
peach cobbler aromas. It’s smooth and sweet, with
creamy mousse on the finish. —M.L.
abv: 12.5% Price: $NA
85
Bella Bollè 2011 Moscato d’Asti. Packaged
in an electric blue bottle, Bella Bollè is a soft,
foamy sweet sparkler with bright aromas of peach blossom,
dried ginger, sage, white flower and musky soap.
The quality of the bubbles is creamy and rich. Prestige
Wine Group. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $9
85
Bersano NV Moscato (Asti). Here’s a cheerful,
fresh and fragrant sparkling Asti with bright
aromas of white flower, ginger, stone fruit and lemon
soda. There’s a zesty touch of fresh spice or white pepper
on the creamy finish. Vin Divino. —M.L.
abv: 7% Price: $13
85
Cantina Vallebelbo 2011 Moscato d’Asti.
Here’s a forthy and fresh Moscato d’Asti with
28 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
fragrant aromas of honey, stone fruit and fragrant flower
available at a competitive price. The wine is sweet and
bright with a soapy touch of dried lavender on the close.
Italian Wine Growers. Best Buy. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $10
85
Cantina Vallebelbo 2011 San Maurizio
(Moscato d’Asti). Fresh, piquant and bright,
this Moscato d’Asti opens with slightly green aromas of
wild flower, cut grass, wild sage and dried hay. The wine
is plush and creamy, with a long, sweet endnote that recalls
honey, marzipan and peach. Italian Wine Growers.
—M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $NA
85
Cinzano NV Moscato (Asti). This celebrated
Italian brand continues its historic production
of sweet sparkling wine from northern Italy. Made with
Moscato Bianco grapes, this expression is fresh, with
steely effervescence and a sweet, fruity note with hints
of peach and honey. Palm Bay International. —M.L.
abv: 7% Price: $13
85
Duchessa Lia NV Moscato (Asti). Fresh,
fragrant and floral, this sweet sparkling wine offers
aromas of peach, honey, white flower, wild sage and
dried hay. The wine is plush and creamy with a thick effervescent
mousse. Italian Wine Growers. —M.L.
abv: 7% Price: $15
85
Enrico Serafino 2011 Moscato d’Asti.
Honey, candied nut, yellow flower, candied
fruit and peach aromas open the bouquet of this bright,
sweet sparkling wine. The effervescence is subdued,
but the wine shows a rich, creamy mouthfeel regardless.
Palm Bay International. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $14
85
Santero 2011 Santo (Moscato d’Asti).
Santo is a creamy Moscato d’Asti with ripe fruit
aromas of yellow rose, honey and apricot. The wine
shows a thick, bold style ,with an off-gold color and
plenty of sweetness on the sticky finish. Atlas Imports.
—M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $10
85
Santero 2011 Villa Jolanda (Moscato
d’Asti). Packaged in a handsome bottle, this
bright Moscato d’Asti is musky and sweet (as tradition
dictates) and opens with aromas of peach blossom,
white almond skin and honey. Pair this wine with tangerine
mousse or chopped fruit salad. Monsieur Touton
Selection Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $14
85
Vino dei Fratelli 2011 Moscato d’Asti.
There’s a sweet, sticky quality to this Moscato
d’Asti that would match cream puddings or cooked fruit
desserts. Fragrant aromas of yellow flower, honey, apricot
and tangerine emerge on the bouquet. Quintessential
Wines. —M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $16
84
Cantina Vallebelbo 2011 San Maurizio
Moscato (Asti). The bouquet reveals subtle
notes of honey, white flower and peach blossom. This
sweet sparkler also shows a milky or creamy note on the
finish, with a softly sweet endnote. Italian Wine Growers.
—M.L.
abv: 7.5% Price: $9
84
Demarie 2010 Moscato d’Asti. This bright
Moscato d’Asti opens with a pristine appearance
and a radiant pale gold color. The aromas are
slightly closed and nutty, with white almond, stone fruit
and yellow rose. There’s a touch of crushed white pepper
at the very end. Uva Imports. —M.L.
abv: 5% Price: $20
84
Fratelli Martini 2011 Casa Sant’Orsola
Moscato (Asti). Compared to Moscato d’Asti,
Asti is a sparkling dessert wine with slightly more alcohol
and more bite to its bubbly effervescence. This expression
is pure and clean, with simple white flower and
stone fruit aromas followed by a sweet, fresh finish. W.J.
Deutsch & Sons. —M.L.
abv: 7% Price: $14
84
Isolabella della Croce 2010 Valdiserre
(Moscato d’Asti). There’s a fresh, almost
spicy quality to the nose, with fresh fruit, acacia flower,
honey and crushed white pepper. The wine is steady
and smooth on the palate, with a creamy texture and
a foamy mousse. Patagonia Wine & Imports, LLC.
—M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $17
84
Mondoro NV Moscato (Asti). Frothy cream
and a thick white mousse cap this bright, sparkling
Asti as the wine is poured in the glass. Floral and
fruity aromas of jasmine and peach appear on the bouquet
and the mouthfeel is silky and easy. Palm Bay International.
—M.L.
abv: 7.5% Price: $15
83
Tosti NV Moscato (Asti). Tosti’s sparkling
Asti offers a saccharine-sweet quality and aromas
of lemon soda, candied fruit and honey. Perfect for
dried biscuits or fresh fruit, the wine is soft, round and
sticky on the close. Prestige Wine Group. —M.L.
abv: 7.5% Price: $14
OTHER PIEDMONT
88
Borgo Isolabella 2005 Isolabella della
Croce Solìo Moscato (Loazzolo). From
the Loazzolo subzone of Piedmont, this beautiful dessert
wine presents generous aromas of fresh flower,
apricot, honey, baked pear and Golden Delicious apple.
The mouthfeel is rich, long and smooth. Patagonia
Wine & Imports, LLC. —M.L.
abv: 11.5% Price: $40/375 ml
83
Moscadoro 2010 Moscato (Piedmont).
This easy sparkling Moscato from northern Italy
opens with aromas of yellow rose, peach, honey and almond
skin. The wine is sweet, but not exaggeratedly so,
and offers a light, delicate effervescence. Bedford International.
—M.L.
abv: 5.5% Price: $12/375 ml
83
Tosti NV Rosato Moscato (Piedmont).
Moscato Rosato is a sweet sparkling rosé with
a bright raspberry color and tangy layers of forest fruit