I've been glad to see more and more Soave on US shelves of late. The average wine consumer thinks of Pinot Grigio first in terms of Italian white wines. But over time with any luck Soave will gain ground as another attractive, well priced option. Today I'm going to look at an example from 2008.
The 2008 Guerrieri Rizzardi Soave Classico D.O.C. was produced using fruit sourced at the Rizzardi hillside estate vineyard. Winemaker Giuseppe Rizzardi chose to blend Chardonnay (20%) in with the Garganega (80%). After fermentation this wine spent 3-6 months on the lees in cement vats. 2,000 Cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.
Aromas of lemon-lime zest and granny smith apple fill the fresh nose of this 2008 Soave. The palate is full flavored and provides nice complexity. Pineapple, asian pear, drried mango, white peach and hints of ginger are the most prominent flavors. Lite mineral notes, tangerine and white pepper all dot the medium length finish which is clean, crisp and refreshing. This is a wine whose flavors beckon you back to the glass for another sip. Excellent acidity keeps things balanced and helps make this a natural food wine.
This wine will work quite well with soft cheeses, appetizers and lighter chicken dishes. That said it's quite good on its own and makes an excellent apertif. It's light enough not to bog anyone down before a meal. The Guerrieri Rizzardi also has more than sufficient compexity for it's price point to both keep people interested and to represent a good value.