($18): Prà, one of Soave’s top producers and one of those responsible for the region’s renaissance, makes several Soave.  Their top wine is from a single vineyard, Montegrande and is a blend of Garganega (70%) and Trebbiano di Soave.  This one, Otto, named after a border collie, is their basic Soave made entirely from Garganega and aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks.  But to refer to it as “basic” or “entry level” does not do it justice.  The grapes come from their estate in the Monteforte d’Alpone district of Soave, where the dark volcanic soil imparts ripeness to the wines.  The 2016 Otto certainly has nuances of ripe peach-like fruitiness, but the excitement comes from the interplay of the fruitiness and minerality with exhilarating acidity.  It has good weight without being heavy.  It’s another great choice for summertime drinking.
92 Michael Apstein Jun 13, 2017