About this WINE
Bele Casel, Veneto
Bele Casel is an artisan Prosecco producer who Berrys are proud to have teamed up with. Based at Caerano san Marco, near Treviso, the small 10 hectare (120k bottles/anno) family estate lies in a fiercely protected subzone of iron red & calc hills called Asolo; the key limestone element giving wines a fragrant white peach character.
The Ferraro family have been at it since 1977, first bottling the aforementioned frizzante ‘Colfondo’ method but then when the market became too tough, accepting that they too had to make a spumante. Fast forward a generation and father Danilo, who kick started the family’s move to bottling, was joined in 1998 by son Luca (the tall one!), fresh out of wine school. Luca’s arrival ushered in a new cantina/winery, completed in 2003 that also allows them to make spumante for other small growers, along with the planting of a new vineyard, ‘Maser’; the estate being organic in all but certificate.
Bele Casel makes five wines: the region’s trademark wine style “Extra Dry” (16 grams of residual sugar), a more considered ‘Extra Dry Millesimato’ (23 grams), a crisp ‘Brut’ (10 grams), the frizzante ‘Colfondo’ and a fine Merlot! It’s a measure of the family’s competence and professionalism that all the wines without exception are of a high quality; each one distinct and great to drink.
That was clearly the case from the off as I tasted their still wines from the 2010 vintage; still in tank before destiny would decide whether they became spumante with the addition of sugar, or with grape must if they were bottled for frizzante (colfondo). I was struck by the bright purity of fruit, by the clear differences between their provenance and by the wines’ stunning length and sense of harmony.
While I’m sure you would lap up all the wines, as I did, Berrys have decided to get the ball rolling by buying the ‘Extra Dry’ and ‘Extra Dry Millesimato 2010’; the Extra Dry will light up any room; the Millesimato more earnest and measured, for a special occasion.
David Berry Green, BBR Buyer
Prosecco
Prosecco is Italy's most famous sparkling wine produced mainly in the wine appellations of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in the region of Veneto which are the only DOC- level zones for ‘Prosecco’.
Prosecco is also the name of the grape that forms the basis of the eponymous sparkling wine and many of the best examples contain 100% Prosecco, although Verdiso, Perera and Bianchetta grape varieties which are considered to be of lesser stature, can be used up to a maximum of 15% .
Prosecco grape is distinguished by its aromatics of lemon and green apples, and its subtle flavours of white peaches, freshly picked flowers and notes of yeastiness. The base wine is made using the Charmat method.
Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze DOC encompasses the steepest hills in the Prosecco di Valdobbiadene district which deliver the most intense, complex styles of Prosecco sparkling wine.
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Description
‘Colfondo’ refers to the artisanal approach of making Prosecco, whereby the second, carbonic fermentation takes place in bottle, leaving a slight residue at the bottom of the bottle (‘il fondo’) which when disturbed makes the wine cloudy, enriching it with the lees of the vinification.
The wine that goes into Colfondo comes from a single, organic vineyard site called ‘Maser’. Miminal levels of sulphur are used. The result is an authentic yet finely honed ‘frizzante’ (i.e. less fizz), that’s more wine than sparkling; more food-friendly than aperitivo. Very elegant, intense, pale, delicate and self-effacing, with (bitter) lemon and sapid stone fruit flavours, it’s effectively dry so great with salami.
David Berry Green
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