2007 Prà Soave Classico Staforte

• By Antonio Galloni
  Discovering Italy’s Finest Wine Values (Aug 2008), (See more on Vinous...)

  (Prà Soave Staforte) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  6/17/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (STAFORTE Pra) Staforte Dear Friends, With the price of Sancerre and Burgundy going through the roof, it's time to look elsewhere for white wine of complexity, ageing potential and value. We've found it here in the Veneto and I continue to be surprised by how good the 2007s have turned out. I'm not ready to say 2007 is the best white wine vintage in Europe in a long time but one thing is for sure - if you've missed the classic nature of pre-global warming wine, 2007 is your vintage to stock up on - the wines are that good. They are the anti-2005s, devoid of anything excess - they are shimmering, reflective and perfectly framed by their vintage and material. I will post reports as I taste more wines from different regions but, for now, this is a wine all of you should try... To be brief, this is one of the more impressive white wines you will find in 2007 under $20 and I'm quite sure it will receive the critical accolades commensurate with the quality. The vintage continues to churn out one delicious stalactite after another but the best wines also have the delicate mass and structure to match. This wine was a major hit at this year's VinItaly and it was easy to see why - it's outstanding for the price. Azienda Agricola Pra is notorious with long-lived Soave and their Monte Grande bottling can last up to 20 years (there are many white Burgundy's that wish they could make that claim). There is a famous restaurant in the US that serves old vintages of the Monte Grande as their signature and they worth the trip alone. The Staforte bottling has the same fruit quality of the Monte Grande without the oak - almost an Inama Du Lot without any wood influence. It has material, breadth and the tell-tale filigreed presence from the vintage that should serve it very well over the next 6-12 years (it's darn good right now as well). Garganega can produce round, supple wines with plenty of gras (fat) but in a vintage like 2007, you get the best of both worlds (racy and rich) mingling together in a bath of minerality, lime, pear, stone, spice and structure. The vintage downgrades the tropical flavors found in the 2005 and ups the classic nature of the wine. it should continue to unfold over the next six months and hold there for years. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for top reflection of vintage, price/value and ageing potential We have an outstanding price on this wine, about the same as in Italy. One shipment only at this price directly from the source with perfect provenance: 2007 Pra Soave Classico "Staforte" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy8652