Reviews of Italy's Coolest Wines
QUERCIOLI - SOLO - CONCERTO - BOCCIOLO - DAPHNE - NEBBIE
 
Daphne
 
Sipping News: DaphneBlossoming scents of tangerine peel in the glass hint that Daphne is sweet as can be. Not so. At first sip, this frizzante Malvasia Secco from Lambrusco producer Medici Ermete (whose Concerto red we can't resist), reveals itself to be edgy and dry. Made from the Malvasia di Candia variety, which once was also a staple in Madeira, the wine is highlighted by subtle floral overtones. If you need a break from Champagne's yeasty heft, and still want bubbles to launch a meal, the 2005 Daphne ($20) from the Emilian area of Reggio (Italy) offers an aromatic alternative. From winerydirect.com.

-- Jon Bonné, Sipping News, San Francisco Chronicle (February 23, 2005)
 
 
85 / OTHER ITALIAN SPARKLING WINES
Medici Ermete 2005 Daphne Malvasia Frizzante Bianca (Emilia-Romagna)
"Pear" sums up the most obvious component of this wine's aromatic offerings. You'll find pineapple, peach and exotic fruit as well, but in much smaller doses. All in all, this is a fun and pleasant sparkler, made from aromatic Malvasia grapes, with an attractive nose and a lean mouthfeel."
~ Wine Enthusiast (December 15, 2006)
 
 
"And Lambrusco is not the only wine in Emilia-Romagna that bubbles. Many producers, including Medici, create interesting frizzanti and spumanti from the malvasia grape as well."
~ Vino Italiano by Joseph Bastianich & David Lynch
 
 
"Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna is home to two of Italy's best frizzantes. The first comes from Medici Ermete, one of the region's oldest Lambrusco producers, which decided nearly 20 years ago to grow its own grapes for its best wines. The effort has paid off with Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano Secco, a dry red frizzante that is a far cry from the mediocre sweet, fizzy reds typically made from the Lambrusco grape. But the Medici Ermete frizzante I find irresistible is the Daphne Malvasia Secco. This delicious white made from the Malvasia grape has earned its local nickname: Champagnino, or "Little Champagne..."
~ Ciao, Champagne by Michael Bonadies (Food & Wine)
 
 
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