Tasting - Villa Alena Moscato D'Asti

Name: Villa Alena Moscato D'Asti
Variety of Grape(s): Moscato
Country of Origin: Italy
Region of Origin: Asti
Vintage Year: 2022
Price: $12-$15 Based on Online Sources (Bottle was a gift)

As my first critical wine tasting, this Moscato had me excited. I typically prefer a drier still red wine, and I felt like I would be able enhance my experience by starting off my tasting journey with a sweeter, bubbly Moscato. By beginning in a place of unfamiliarity, I felt like I was starting a brand new journey from scratch, subject to various new experiences and tastes.

Myself and my friends had not yet received our copy of Wine Folly to provide the requested information, however we researched this wine extensively through online critical sources (linked below) in order to find the most accurate descriptions possible. The following set of descriptors was sourced from Vivino.com:

Wine Critic Review: According to Chad D. on Vivino.com (3,976 ratings on the site at 49th highest in the US):

"Who doesn’t love an Asti during the holiday season? Enjoyable sweet bubbly with flavors of pear, green apple, and a hint of citrus. A bit sticky, but not at all bad! Cheers!"

Starting with the visual, the wine had a nice very light yellow color and was perfectly clear. There was a light foam rising to the surface after the pour, with a light bubbling that remained consistent throughout the tasting.

The aroma was very faint, almost nonexistent. This was surprising due to the amount of bubbles that I saw, and I assumed they carried the aroma with them. What I could perceive were faint notes of apple and grape with a slight bitterness that stung the nose. 

Upon the first taste, the first observation was the overpowering sweetness. Strong notes of granny smith and red delicious apples hit first. There was absolutely no ethanol perceived whatsoever, and it had a very smooth finish that provided me with new notes of vanilla and pear. The bubbles were very faint, but provided a nice mouthfeel to the overall experience.

As I continued to enjoy the glass, I began to notice more depth in the flavor and aroma. When I sipped while I sniffed the aromas, the grape flavor became much more pronounced. The flavor also seemed to expand a bit, with the pear flavors beginning to shine through with hints of fresh peaches and honey. I never tasted any specific citrus flavors, however I can see how the tartness from the granny smith apple could also be perceived closer to citrus fruits.

As someone who prefers drier wines, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this Moscato and the surprising complexity of the flavor. I may not choose it out of a lineup of white wines available to me in most scenarios, however I can see myself thoroughly enjoying a glass or two with a rich dark chocolate dessert. Maybe a black forest cake, or just some dark chocolate chips. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a 3.75/5 based on the complexity of the flavors and the overall ease of drink. I'd still prefer a drier wine, however should I be in the mood for a sweet chilled treat, I would definitely open a bottle of Villa Alena Moscato D'Asti.