($26): Prosecco has become ubiquitous, which, of course, has made it a marketing challenge for the top producers, such as Nino Franco.  Why should a consumer pay $26 for Prosecco when plenty sell for less than half that?  For this one, the answer is easy:  It’s a far, far superior wine.  The explanation for its superiority is twofold.  First, Nino Franco has been a consistent beacon of quality and is considered one of the very best producers in the region.  Second, the grapes come from Valdobbiadene, a better area than the origin of grapes for inexpensive Prosecco.  Moreover, the grapes are from an ideally suited single vineyard in the Valdobbiadene area, the Vigneto della Riva di San Floriano.  Aromas of delicate white peach are immediately apparent and follow through on the palate.  Not bone dry, the hint of peach-like fruitiness actually amplifies the wine’s character and charm. This refreshing and zesty Prosecco is the real thing and explains the category’s success.
92 Michael Apstein Jul 18, 2017