Super Bargain: Gaetano D'Aquino Pinot Chardonnay Vino Spumante Brut ~ Italian Sparkling Wine
Mar 26 '02
The Bottom Line Wow. Only $2.99 per bottle at Trader Joe's Market. One of the most fantastic sparkling wine bargains in the world.
Allow me to preface this review with a simple statement that sums up everything that I really want to say about this wine:
This is probably the most fantastic sparkling wine bargain in the world.
Gaetano D'Aquino'd Pinot Chardonnay Vino Spumante Brut -- only $2.99 at Trader Joe's Market.
A Pinot Chardonnay Vino Spumante Brut -- now... doesn't that sound like a mixed-up bag of descriptors for a sparkling wine?
Don't let the funked-up description of this Italian sparkler turn you off. I've tried a bottle last night and it was good. Even at twice the price, this wine would be a bargain.
This wine is made from a blend of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay grapes and is a very lightly sweet mix that offers more acidity and a body that's more like a traditional California sparkling wine.
I tried Gaetano D'Aquino's Asti last January -- a sweet "Moscato Naturale d'Asti" featuring only 7% alcohol by volume and a low, low price of only $3.99 per bottle. The Asti offering has more of a sugary lemon-muscat aroma and flavor.
This new Pinot Chardonnay Vino Spumante Brut is a nice step-up in flavor and complexity. This 11.5% alcohol by volume sparkling wine pours with a pale straw-gold color, moderately active levels of carbonation, a slightly floral and sweet nose, and a gentle and balanced yellow apple and lemon fruit flavor. This one enters the mouth crisply and cleanly, has good balance, and finishes with a bit of sweetness and a slight citrus edge. Perhaps a little sweeter than an "Extra Dry" sparkling wine, but still a very versatile performer. This is a perfect choice for a party drink; it's a fine aperitif wine; it's perfect for large group gatherings. This wine will appeal to those who enjoy "wine coolers" as well as to those you prefer something with a little more refined fruit expression.
Final word: for only $3 per 750 ml bottle, I was stunned. The price is too low for a wine of this quality and character. If you have a Trader Joe's Market in your area, find this Spumante Brut and buy it. It doesn't have the sweet, ripe muscatel flavor of regular Asti Spumante wines. This one is a tad bit drier, yeastier, crisper, and would pair well with seafood dishes. In particular: grilled swordfish, salmon, shark, sea bass, or cod. Highly recommended.
Distributed by: Terre s.r.l. - Alba, Italy
Bottled By: T.P. S.p.A. - Cossano Belbo - Italy
Sole U.S.A. Agents: D' Aquino Italian Importing Co.
Duarte, CA 91010 (Yep. Just a few miles north from me.)
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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 - Top 50 |
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1090
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