by Andrew Chalk
Religious activities continue this week with another sparkler to turn carpe diem into carp with veggies. The most famous sparkling wine in the world is Champagne. It is distinguished by, among other things, its location, choice of grapes and its method of production. However, of these, the grapes and the production technique (secondary fermentation in the bottle) can be used in other locations. So it is with the three wines here today.
These are all made by Ferrari (no relation to the car maker) in Trento, Italy. All use the Champagne production method, which the Italians call Metodo Classico (classical method). The Ferrari Brut, Trento DOC ($25, Goody Goody) is 100% Chardonnay. This is dry, like Champagne, crisp and yeasty, like Champagne, but the price is a bit lower.
The Ferrari Rosé, Trento DOC ($37) is made from 60% Pinot Noir/40% Chardonnay, like rosé Champagne, and dry and crisp with a hint of Pinot fruit.
The 2006 Ferrari Perlé, Trento DOC ($35) is a vintage sparkling wine that is aged for four years in the bottle on the lees (yeast). This is a popular technique in Champagne because it imbues the wine with a yeasty flavor and richness that for many tasters (including this one) makes for the best tasting sparkling wine. In fact, you could keep this bottle for a few years and study the effects of ageing on the flavors. You could also taste it with holiday celebrations this year, or with seafood (including crab, fish and lobster) as is the practice in Champagne. This wine is 100% Chardonnay (Ferrari also has a vintage rosé made with a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but I was not sent this for review). However, it has sufficient body and flavor flavor that it will stand up to the Thanksgiving turkey (providing the turkey is dead – a live one would eat the cork). The grapes come from Lunelli family estate vineyards on the hills around Trento at elevations between 1000 and 2000 feet. The vineyards have either southeastern or southwestern exposures which allows harvest typically at the end of September. All harvests are carried out by hand.
So, we have three sparkling wines. All made the same way as Champagne but none from Champagne. I think Ferrari makes some of the best metodo classico wines in Italy. This collection stands toe-to-toe with Champagne and is a worthy alternative for your purchases this year.
Disclosure and procedures: Wine sent by a vendor at no cost to reviewer. The local reseller named after a price quote is the one who, on wine-searcher.com, had the lowest price. Wines sent by vendors may not be reviewed and will not be returned. Wines considered the most meritorious in the opinion solely of the reviewer, are the ones most likely to be reviewed.
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