Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/674905
may 2016 / the tasting panel / 75 CANTINE MASCHIO'S PROSECCO BRUT AND MASCHIO DEI CAVALIERI PROSECCO Jacob Gragg, Advanced Sommelier and Artisan Vino Advisor of the South for Cru Artisan, presented the Maschio Brut and the Maschio dei Cavalieri. Cantine Maschio was founded in 1974 by a man from a family of noted distillers, Bonaventura Maschio. Jacob says, "The beautiful thing about Prosecco and especially the Cavalieri is that it has this elegance of character and an aromatic profile, but on the palate, it doesn't have that yeasty, weighty, bready kind of quality that Champagne tends to have, and I think that's what's best about it." Cantine Maschio Prosecco Brut, Treviso DOC From the hills of the Treviso DOC, one of the nine provinces of the Prosecco DOC. Alkaline sandstone and stone. 100% Glera. Gently pressed free-run juice fermented in tempera- ture-controlled stainless steel tanks—between 65 to 68 degree Fahrenheit over about 20 days. Blind Tasting Note Dry, sparkling wine. Fruit is yellow— pear, lemon, apple just ripe. Crisp and refreshing. High acid, medium body. —Stephen Clark Cantine Maschio dei Cavalieri Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Located in the Veneto region, from the hills of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, specifi- cally from the Rive di Colbertaldo cru. Mixed soil consisting of mostly clay. 100% Glera. Gently pressed grapes fermented in temperature- controlled stainless steel tanks precede a secondary temperature-controlled fermentation in autoclaves. Blind Tasting Note Lemon, apple, toast, bitter almond. More grip than the previous sparkler. More austerity. A Prosecco that reminds me of a traditional sparkling wine. —Joon Lim BANFI PIEMONTE'S CUVÉE AURORA ROSÉ AND LA LUZ ALBAROSSA Banfi Piemonte's Chief Winemaker, Alberto Lazzarino, revealed the incredibly well-rounded 2011 Cuvée Aurora Rosé. In 1970, Banfi purchased a 45-hectare estate in Strevi, originally established in 1860, and dubbed this Banfi Piemonte cellars. Although the Alta Langa DOCG was not awarded until 2011, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have been growing in Piemonte since the early 1800s. Lazzarino points out that although this is a vintage, traditional method sparkler, "15% of the previous vintage is allowed. I use 10% to soften the swing from one vintage to another." Banfi Piemonte Cuvée Aurora Rosé, Alta Langa DOCG Piedmont region, from the hilltops of the Alta Langa DOCG. A mix of clay and calcareous soil. 100% Pinot Noir. A soft crush of grapes macerated cold for one hour. Fermented at about 63 degrees Fahrenheit. A cuvée of 90% clear wine and 10% previous vintage aged in French oak barrique. Made in traditional method. Yeast contact for at least 24 months. Blind Tasting Note Rose, hibiscus, lemon-curd. Paprika, pepper. Very delicate. Beautiful aperitif. —Nicole Murray Banfi Piemonte La Lus Albarossa, Piedmont Piedmont region from the vineyards of Monferrato in Southeastern Piedmont. Sandy, clay soil. 100% Albarossa. 24-hour cold maceration, skin-contact temperature controlled fermentation for 8-10 days with frequent pump over. Aged in French oak for 12 months. Blind Tasting Note Black and blue ripe fruit. Blackberry liquor and cassis. Spice, pepper and clove. Full body, medium acid, medium-plus tannin. Would be great with barbecue. —Stephen Clark Cantine Maschio Prosecco Brut. Banfi Piemonte Cuvée Aurora Rosé. Cantine Maschio dei Cavalieri Valdobbiadene Prosecco. Banfi Piemonte La Lus Albarossa. Revealed by the incredible winemakers themselves, a group of eight Atlanta-based somms blind-tasted through a flight of 24 Banfi Cru Artisan wines at Atlas restaurant in Buckhead, Atlanta. Cantine Cantine PROSECCO PROSECCO DEI DEI CAVALIERI CAVALIERI Gragg, Gragg, of of the of the of Brut Brut was was distillers, distillers, distillers, distillers, distillers, distillers, beautiful beautiful Cavalieri is is that aromatic profile, profile, yeasty, weighty, weighty, tends to to have, Cantine Cantine 100% Gently Gently ture-controlled ture-controlled degree degree Tasting Tasting lemon, lemon, apple medium medium medium medium Maschio Maschio Prosecco Prosecco DOCG DOCG Located Located Conegliano Conegliano cally cally temperature-controlled Blind Tasting Tasting grip grip than Prosecco that that Lim Lim