Zonte's Footstep NV Bolle Felici Prosecco

The eighteenth century Italian poet and man of letters Aureliano Acanti waxed lyrical about the wines of Veneto and in particular Prosecco, commenting on its apple bouquet and fine sensory profile. He was the first to write about this ancient wine, which dated back to Roman times, then known as PuccinoTranslated as Happy Bubbles, Bolle Felici is an homage to his poem Il Roccolo and a catchy name for this charming sparkling wine. 

This is the first Prosecco released by Zonte's Footstep, a blend of the traditional Glera variety (until 2009 formally called Prosecco) with a little Pinot Grigio sourced from the maritime-influenced Mediterranean climate of South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula. 


"Prosecco on the global market has had incredible uptake over the past few years, and we have seen some producers taking advantage of these shirttail opportunities," says vigneron Brad Rey. "We have produced this wine in true fashion, using 95% Glera and 5% Pinot Grigio," further commenting on the winery's first Prosecco. 


Fermented in large vats in the traditional Charmat method, the popularity of Prosecco has soared worldwide, recently overtaking Champagne as Britain's sparkling wine of choice in the battle of the bubbles. It'll be interesting to see what happens here with imports and home-grown products over the next few years.

Bolle Felici is a light golden colour with a green tinge in the glass. Florals, baked green apple, pear and musk, marzipan nuances. A delicate nose but mind inhaling those perky bubbles. 

Lemon and apple on entry with fresh, dry, grapefruit zing across the mid-palate. 
Good acidity on the mid-palate and then transitions into pear, grapey and minty flavours. Light-bodied with a nice texture that comes across soft and creamy. Light spritzy beads on the palate lift the crisp, refreshing finish.

This Prosecco provides excellent value for a fresh, versatile bubbly. With the warmer months ahead, try the Bolle Felici on its own as a party-starter or match it with prosciutto and cold melon as Brad Rey recommends for a sublime experience. Happy Bubbles is easy to enjoy and worth seeking out. 



Source: Sample. ABV: 11.0%. Closure: Cork. Price: $18.00. Rating: 91 Points. 

2013 Express Winemakers Ribera del Frankland Tempranillo

Despite the name, Express Winemakers is not some conveyor belt, mass producing commodity wine company. Rather, as a boutique operation, it's a referral to how selected grapes and terroir express their idiosyncrasies in the final product, exactly the vision of what owners and new kids on the Great Southern block Ryan O'Meara and Pete Pedro have sought to achieve since 2011. 

The Tempranillo grapes are sourced from a vineyard in the Blackwood River Wine region, just north of Frankland, one of the five sub-regions of Great Southern and with a minimal interventional policy to the winemaking, Ryan and Pete have left the grapes and the process do the talking and I'm liking what this Temp is saying.

Under a cool label the wine is a dark ruby red colour. Its lifted aromas remind of dark sour cherries, savoury herbs, cola and red currants. 


Fresh, juicy, plush mouthfeel of plum, tobacco and supple confectionary tastes that are held by a balanced acid structure. Slight hint of vanilla too that added interest but wasn't out of place. Just on medium weight. Powdery dry tannins that coat the palate give the wine a persistent and savoury length. It's joven in style, has a cool and suave character, is enjoyable and has loads of drinking appeal. Difficult to resist. Wine to watch. Muy bien


Source: Sample. ABV: 14.0%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $26.00. Rating: 92 Points. Website: http://www.expresswinemakers.com/

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2014 Express Winemakers Rosado

Bottle labels are often overlooked in conversations about wine but the one adorning the 2014 Express Winemakers Rosado is in a modern sense, creative and beautifully designed. The outside tells the story on the fresh, vibrant and flamboyant story inside. It's symbolic and expressive. A rosado with a Spanish theme made from Grenache and Mataro, complexity added with splashes of Tempranillo and Syrah.

A seductively stunning dark salmon colour. Appealing to look at, smell and to taste. Aromas of fresh strawberries, cranberries, assorted florals and wet rocks. 

Persistent characters of dry, savoury red fruits with a light tannic grip. Juicy through the palate as well as having a light chalk dust texture. Ends very smooth on the aftertaste with rose petal and crushed strawberry. Well-balanced acids and fruits. Nothing out of place here.  



The Grenache Mataro blend, sans the Syrah component is overlooked me thinks with its lush headiness of big spicy red fruits. This has all the hallmarks but in an albeit lighter rose style with some added complexity, impact and lift. The guys at Express Winemakers have got everything right about this one.


Fresh, perfumed, dry, textural and elegant. More-ish and utterly delicious to drink especially in the warmer months ahead. Excellent.

Source: Sample. ABV: 13.0%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $20.00. Rating: 92 Points. Website: http://www.expresswinemakers.com/

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