2021 Cantine Pra Otto Soave Classico, Veneto

Solid and concentrated in its main structure, it offers notes of white peaches, melon, white chocolate, crushed stone, and dried pineapple. Full body, harmonious and balanced structure, and a juicy and linear finish. How lovely.

92 points Raffaele Vecchione, WinesCritic.com

Quite refreshing and mineral with lots of green and white fruit. Stony nectarine and green-apple aromas. Pure and fresh with a textured, medium-bodied palate, showing some mineral and limey fruit . Gastronomic and delicious. 

92 points James Suckling

Graziano Prà has been one of the key figures behind Soave’s modern revival, proving that Garganega can produce whites of genuine character rather than simply easy drinking Italian refreshment. Based in Monteforte d’Alpone, Prà works some of the volcanic hillsides at the heart of the Classico zone. Otto is the estate’s wonderfully approachable introduction to Soave, named after the family’s border collie rather than some long forgotten Venetian nobleman, which we rather like.

The fruit comes from hillside vineyards within Soave Classico, where Garganega thrives in volcanic soils. The 2021 vintage has now had several years in bottle, allowing the youthful citrus and floral characters to broaden into something more savoury and textural. It remains fresh, but there is a lovely almondy, slightly waxy complexity beginning to emerge.

Light straw gold, with yellow apple, ripe pear and preserved lemon joined by chamomile, acacia and a little white peach. Fennel, almond and wet stone become more apparent with air. The palate has gentle weight and a softly rounded texture, sharpened by citrus acidity and a subtle mineral grip. Pear and lemon give way to almond skin, dried flowers and a faint saline note on the dry, savoury finish.

Try it with crab linguine, grilled prawns with garlic and parsley, risotto with zucchini and pecorino, salt and pepper calamari or roast chicken with lemon and sage. Our pick is the crab linguine, kept simple with olive oil, chilli, parsley and plenty of crab.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2029.