Italiano
Moscato forever
Too often forgotten or underestimated, Moscato d'Asti is a delicious wine that should not be missing from our refrigerators in the summertime. Its low alcohol content and incredible pleasantness make it suitable for a thousand occasions, even outside of a meal.
Muscat, or rather "the" Muscats, are among the most ancient and cultivated varieties of the entire globe. Coming from Asia Minor, this vine was spread all over the Mediterranean basin by Greek and Phoenician sailors. Thanks to its characteristics, first of all the typical aroma, it has always met an enormous success. In order to describe it we do not have to, just like any other wine, use similes, aromas and images borrowed from flowers, fruit or other: we will always and simply say "it tastes like Muscat". And this is enough. Of course during millennia the species has evolved and differentiated, adapting to very different climates and soils. Thus, within this large family, we have the small-berry Muscat, which gives rise to numerous variants, including Muscat of Canelli. In our peninsula it is mainly cultivated on the hills of Piedmont and in Oltrepò Pavese, but in small quantities (we are talking about wine grapes, of course) it is present throughout Italy. From the sparkling and unmistakably aromatic Asti, to the golden and fortified wines of Apulia and of the islands, as well as the Golden and Rosen Muskateller of Alto Adige and all the way to Sardinia and Pantelleria, Muscat is a real flourishing, as a witness of the great possibilities of this grape and the success it has in every version.
Today we would like to focus on Piedmont, or better still on the area around Asti, in order to look for those Moscato d'Asti wines that are extremely popular and cost the right amount of money, outside of the usual circuits.
Lets begine with the one produced by Batasiolo. This great winery is owned by the Dogliani family. Its vineyards are spread out in various towns in the Barolo district, in La Morra and Serralunga in particular which produce the cru Brunate and Briccolina. They also produce a series of other Piedmont wines that are all well-made and some have an excellent quality/price ratio.
Then we move to Alessandria, to the Ca’ Bianca estate, that belongs to Gruppo Italiano Vini and offers wines from Asti, Acqui, along with some Barolo and Gavi. Production is mostly based on two grape varieties, Barbera and Dolcetto, which are the those typical of the two areas they come from.
We arrive to Bera, An historic winery for Asti winegrowing and for Moscato grapes, which have been cultivated for centuries. Wine production, however, did not begin until the 1970s and was for the most versions of Asti and Moscato d’Asti, along with the Nebbiolo to produce Barbaresco and Langhe Nebbiolo. Bera’s heart and ‘mission’ remains the aromatic fragrances and effervescence of a
wine that is often undervalued yet has made the world envious of Piedmont.
Lets finish with an historic winery. It all begun in 1970s and was for the most versions of Asti and Moscato d’Asti, along with the Nebbiolo to produce Barbaresco and Langhe Nebbiolo. Bera’s heart and ‘mission’ remains the aromatic fragrances and effervescence of a wine that is often undervalued yet has made the world envious of Piedmont.
Moscato d’Asti Bosco d’La Rei 2019 Batasiolo
94/100 - € 12,00
100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. Sweet filtered.
Light golden yellow color. Typical, aromatic and fragrant notes of sage, lemon and candied cedar, jasmine flowers and mango. Sweet taste, light and tense, nice refreshing acidity and almost ‘dangerous’ drinkability. It’s constantly one of the best versions of its category.
Moscato d’Asti 2019 Ca’ Bianca
90/100 - € 9,00
100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. Sweet filtered.
Light straw yellow color. Fragrant, fruity, aromatic and pleasant notes of sage and white flowers. Sweet taste, tense, light and very pleasant.
Asti Valter Bera 2018 Bera
90/100 - € 10,00
100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. Charmat method.
Light yellow color and thick and fast bubbles. Very typical aromas with fragrant notes of sage, cedar, flint and bread crust. Sweet and tense taste, great acidity, light, agile and fresh.
Moscato d’Asti Scrapona 2019 Marenco
90/100 - € 12,00
100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. Sweet filtered.
Straw yellow color. Fragrant, varietal, aromatic notes of sage, cedar, Sorrento lemon and white flowers. Sweet but tense taste, light, very pleasant, very well made and representative of its category.
