Paluzzi Moscato D’Asti 2017

The Paluzzi Moscato D’Asti 2017 is a $6.99 ALDI’s Sparkling wine from the DOCG Asti region inside of Piedmont in northwest Italy. The entire Asti growing region is designated DOCG (that is Italy highest designation concerning location and the rules and regulation of growing grapes and producing wine, followed by DOC, IGP, and Table Wine. Gancia and Martini and Rossi Asti Spumante are also DOCG wines. These are lightly bubbled in the Frizzante style, a light fizz somewhere between a still wine and a Sparkling wine and this style is fermented only once, while the Prosecco and Champagne style Bubbly is fermented twice. The bubbles are milder and softer on the palate and while the Moscato grape is usually sweet, the Paluzzi does not show a sweetness level, but I suspect this is a wine best served with dessert or as a palate cleanser. The alcohol content is a mild 5%.

The color is a wheat yellow, with persistent supply of bubbles, but not energetic like Champagne bubbles. The nose is apricots, nectarines, lemon, honey, lime, peach, and grapefruit. This is a soft, slightly sweet, slightly viscous wine, but with balance. It tastes of candied, but not too sweet pear, lemon, stone fruit, cherry hard candy, and orange blossom honey. It doesn’t really have a transition to a mid-palate, but what is upfront does get the job done. The acidity does a good job of balancing the sweet nature of this wine, it is still on the sweet side, but not cloyingly so. The finish is light and lingers for a while.

I am not usually a fan of sweet wine, but I like the Paluzzi Moscato D’Asti 2017. With most sweet wines a little goes a long way, but I can see good uses for the Paluzzi, pair it with flakey, nutty, sweet pastries or white cake with butter cream frosting and you will make a wonderful thing even better. The more I sip this wine, the more I enjoy it.