The NV Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Bosco di Gica punches well above its price point, boasting an intensely smoky and mineral expression on the nose that pulls you close to the glass. Beneath, I’m finding notes of pear and sweet herbal tones. It’s soothing and creamy yet balanced by brisk acids, as ripe orchard fruits satiate the senses, leaving a salty twang that resonates through the finale. Wow. This is a pleasure to taste. This was bottled in September of 2020.

Alpine mint, wild fennel, basil and pistachio notes. A cool feel to this. The mouthfeel is creamy but demur and straitlaced. Very asciutto, a word denoting the clean finish as the acidity carries the length well after the superficial flavors have diminished. Excellent. Drink now.

WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE 100 BEST FOR $20 OR LESS

Fresh floral scents lead into this wine's flavors of honeycrisp apple, yellow pear and white peach. It's wrapped in a satiny mousse and just enough sweetness (10 grams per liter) to amplify those juicy fruit tones. It's an elegant wine, perfect for a high-end by-the-glass program.

The nose of this Prosecco is focused with aromas of tart green apples, Meyer lemon zest and lilies. The refined palate deftly follows the nose and continues the laser-like focus, finishing with a very impressive minerality.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

This delicious, deeply colored sparkler has alluring aromas of violet and blackberry. On the dry, foaming palate, crisp acidity and refined tannins accompany ripe Marasca cherry, spiced blueberry and orange zest before a fennel finish

This bottle-fermented Prosecco has a lightly cloudy appearance and delicate scents of lemon and bread crust. Tart at first, it gains flavors of raw oatmeal, almond and lemon curd. Fully dry yet with a rich texture and deep savory tones, it’s an elegant partner for seafood or light poultry dishes, and an excellent value for a wine at this level of complexity.

There are plenty of cheap and quaffable choices available when it comes to Prosecco DOC, but for just a few dollars more you can take a real step up with Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines, especially from quality producers like Adami. Over the last decade, producers in the hilly Prosecco Superiore zone have moved toward less-sweet styles to keep up with changing market demands, applying meticulous vineyard management to achieve the perfect grapes these dryer styles require. The Adami family bought the Col Credas vineyard in the early 2000s. It lies in the Rive di Farra di Soligo, one of the 43 rive sites notable for their steep slopes and favorable exposures. The family experimented with the vinification of grapes from Col Credas for a decade, eventually concluding that wines from this site reached their best expression with just a few grams of residual sugar, and releasing Col Credas as a single-vineyard wine for the first time in the 2011 vintage. Ten years later, the 2021 Col Credas Extra Brut is firm and taut, with golden pear and citrus flavors that are pure and refreshing as they glide on a line of cool acidity.  The wine finishes crisp and dry, with lingering saline notes that call for a plate of freshly shucked Wellfleet oysters.  

Bone-dry and crisp, this refreshing sparkler has delicate scents of fragrant white wildflowers, ripe orchard fruit and wild herbs. On the racy palate, bright acidity accompanies ripe apple, pear and lemon zest before closing on hints of hazelnut and pastry dough. Small, continuous bubbles provide the backdrop.