Enobytes Wine Blog

It’s Wine Blogging Wednesday #54, the monthly virtual tasting event sure to educate and entertain any enophile. The recipe is simple. Find a host, create a theme, add bloggers, mix in some great tasting notes and post at 350° until tasty.

This month, our host David McDuff over at McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail hosted the event and selected our theme, "Passion for Piedmont". I was enthusiastic about this theme because the region always gets my blood rushing with excitement. I almost forgot about participating (time slipped away with family in town) but as luck would have it, I happened to look at my calendar this morning and realized I’d scribbled Piedmont WBW due! Doh!

As I scavenged my small cellar, I realized I didn’t have any Piedmont wines on hand. What’s a girl to do? Well, as luck would have it, I happened to taste a Moscato d’Asti from the Piedmont region for a recent chocolate and wine pairing and I’ve been meaning to write about this wine for it deserves a little recognition. Timing is everything!

Anyway, Piedmont is known for their reds but they also make some fabulous whites. Most of the bloggers will probably post about the reds, so I thought it would be perfect to spotlight one of the [white wine] gems coming from the region.

The wine is a 2007 La Spinetta Vigneto Biancospino Moscato d’Asti. Now don’t freak out by its name because it’s pretty simple to break down and digest. La Spinetta (producer) translates to "Top of the hill", which refers to the location of the producer’s cellar in Castagnole Lanze in the heart of Moscato d’Asti country. Vigneto (meaning a single vineyard) Biancospino is

the vineyard, with 25-30 year old vines and sandy soils. Moscato is the grape variety (100% Moscato) and the Denomination is Moscato d’Asti (DOCG). Simple, yes?

This producer has been making wine in the heart of the Moscato d’Asti country since 1977, which is home to [and known for] light and simple dessert wines. La Spinetta believed that the Moscato grape had a potential to produce exquisite wines from this region, hence "Vigneto Biancospino". They certainly accomplished their goal, because I was blown away by this wine. It has the ability to flaunt its finesse while equality commanding a presence of vigor unlike other lightly styled dessert wines from this region.

As for tasting, this wine is light and refreshing, with lively acidity and good balance with a zesty, slightly sweet citrus finish. It almost tastes like you are eating a peach at its perfection of ripeness – it really is that good.

As mentioned previously, I paired this with a 0% cacao 30% cocoa butter white chocolate, which picked up the creaminess of the chocolate considerably well. This is a traditional desert wine, but it would also be great as an aperitif or an afternoon sipper. It’s is a wonderful little wine that deserves special recognition – pick up a bottle and indulge in a little piece of Piedmont, and at a reasonable price ($11 for a 375 ML), its hard to pass up!

Variety: 100% Moscato
Region: Italy, Piedmont
Vineyard: Biancospino
Denomination: Moscato d’Asti DOCG
Value: $11, 375 ML
ABV: 5.5%
Variety: 100% Moscato
Score: 91
… and for those who despise the 100-point scoring system:
QPR: Excellent
Grade: A-
Wine Judging: Gold
UCD: 18
Star rating: 5
One word descriptor for wine geeks: extraordinary
One word descriptor for cool dudes: spoodalicious

A special thanks goes out to David for providing a great theme and hosting this event!