August 26, 2016

WISTON ESTATE Blanc de Blancs 2010

(South Downs, United Kingdom) $59.99

Britain’s sparkling wine vineyards sit in the same limestone soils, in the same geological strata, from the same era, as do the vineyards of Champagne. No surprise then, that the best UK sparklers are immaculate wines of finesse and precision. The utterly delicious Wiston Estate 2010 Blanc de Blancs has a wonderful “starched” crispness, and aromas reminiscent of seashells and lemon meringue. It’s delicate and pure. It feels like one is drinking snowflakes.

93 points

Available at Union Square Wines

Which of the following wines is a sweet red wine made from grapes that have been intentionally dried to concentrate them?

A. Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

B. Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

C. Valpolicella DOC

D. All of the above

Recioto is a sweet wine that is made from dried grapes. All of the grapes above—Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella, and Valpolicella—are made primarily from corvina, rondinella, and molinara grapes in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. Valpolicella is a table wine made in the normal manner. Amarone and Recioto are made from dried or partially dried grapes (a process known as appassimento). But Amarone is full-bodied dry wine with a high alcohol content, while Recioto is a sweet wine with a high residual sugar content. We know, it’s complicated. Hey, it’s Italian.

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WISTON ESTATE Blanc de Blancs 2010

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