Rocche dei Manzoni, Poderi
Piedmont, Italy
Valentino Brut Zero Riserva
Chardonnay
2001
$46.99
12.5%
Aged golden color, great clarity, few and loosely aggregated bubbles. Honeyed, orange peel driven nose with noticeable savory herbs and a meadowy touch, layered apricot paste and peach to green apple fruit scents, finishes with minerally verve. Medium-bodied, stronger fizz than expected and the acidity is great. Fennel, licorice, orange marmalade, lemon sherbet, honey and caramelized brown sugar all thrown into the stew pot together. Mainly apricot and yellow apple fruit but can get close to papaya. Great length and through the mid-palate gets yeasty and doughy without sacrificing a fresh finish.
91 points