Sommelier Journal, August 2009

WINERY SPOTLIGHT Dom Perignon, Champagne, France

Catherine Fallis, MS, ACWP 

Dom Perignon, the flagship wine of Champagne powerhouse Moet & Chandon, defines luxury in all its effervescent glory. Dom Perignon is an international symbol of success, a universal icon believed even by teetotalers to be the best Champagne in the world. It is for this very reason that many sommeliers turn up their noses at it—myself, the well-known Champagne snob, included. Yet people still want it; people getting engaged, …

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Italy is awash in pink wine – and more selections than ever are available now in major US markets.

Here are my top picks:

 - 2008 Planeta Rose Sicilia IGT $16 

Ripe peach, nectarine, guava, strawberry and wildflower notes plus an undercurrent of tarry minerality. This 100% rose of Sicilian Syrah is very potent.

 - 2007 Ros’Aura dei Feudi di San Gregorio DOC Irpinia Rosato Campania $13.99 

Like its white and red siblings, this Campanian rose is powerful and expressive, with ripe strawberry, sour cherry, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and chalk notes. It is a rose of Aglianico, the kingpin of the region and one of the top five red grapes of the country.

 - 2007 Santadi Tre Torri Rosato Carignano del Sulcis DOC Sardinia $13.99

This spicy, bold rose of Carignano (Carignan) has notes of lime, guava, strawberry, Mediterranean herbs, and wildflowers along with a chalky streak of minerality. Very seductive.

 - 2006 Borgo di Colloredo Gironia DOC Biferno Rosato Molise $18

Molise is quietly making a name for itself as more and more artisanally produced wines make it to these shores. The best I’ve ever tasted is Borgo di Colloredo, whose Gironia line is unique, expressive, and full of soul. This full-bodied and spicy rose of Montepulciano (85%) and Aglianico (15%) has notes of raspberry, sour cherry, watermelon, lime, almond, and tar, and is very lightly sparkling, or frizzantino.