Taste
During the blind test session including several wines of different levels, the Sommelier stated with a surprised smile, “This is an important wine!” This wine has golden reflections emitted by a brilliant pale base color. The aroma is complex and extremely interesting. First time tasters can easily appreciate the elegance of its bouquet of apricot with some fresh, stemmy, vegetative notes, and the typical brut presence of a pleasant smoky light background. However, at the beginning of this fantastic exploration, the taste conveys a creamy mouth feeling of apricot and honey. The long and persistent aftertaste exalts fruity and nutty notes.
Serving Tips
The Franciacorta Extra Brut pairs very well with any meat at any meal. The sommelier recommends pairing this wine with any fish, vegetarian, or poultry dish even if dressed with sweet sauces. This extra brut is also fantastic when paired with Asian dishes, ham, fresh or aged cheese, salty pies, pâtés, and any appetizer. Sometimes the extra brut is paired with fresh fruits and desserts, according to preferences. This medium-bodied extra brut wine has such a broad pairing that it can be equally suitable for important events like weddings, anniversaries, and important celebrations. However its superb versatility makes it equally appropriate for romantic dining. This wine should be enjoyed at temperature in the range of 46°F - 50°F, and be held chilled in table wine cooler and bucket.
Wine Appellations
The Franciacorta is an Italian territory in the north of Italy bordered by the Lago d’Iseo on the north, the Alpi Retiche mountains on the east, (dividing the Valle Camonica from the Val Trompia valleys,) the Oglio river on the west, and the Monte Orfano on the south. The Franciacorta region includes 18 towns and related areas belonging and in addition to Brescia: Adro, Capriolo, Cazzago San Martino, Cellatica, Coccaglio, Cologne, Corte Franca, Erbusco, Gussago, Iseo, Monticelli Brusati, Ome, Paderno Franciacorta, Paratico, Passirano, Provaglio d'Iseo, Rodengo Saiano, Rovato, Brescia. The Franciacorta Appellation has the DOCG classification from the Italian Authority, which is also the highest classification released by the authority. The DOCG classification includes a very limited list of Italian wines with Appellation that are Controlled and Guaranteed by the Italian Authority. The latest DOCG list issued by the Italian Authority (2007) counts only 36 Appellations. The Franciacorta is the only Italian wine produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation that is accepted throughout the European Union and labeled only with the word Franciacorta, without any additional statement or classification. Hence, just say Franciacorta to order this wine!
Appellation History
The Franciacorta, which was known until the middle of the last century for the production of much-appreciated still wines, owes its international success to the introduction of excellent sparkling wines made with one of the best methods of in-bottle secondary fermentation to effect carbonation. The unusual name, Franciacorta, appears to have been derived from an ancient Latin term, curtes francae, that was applied to a vast monastic property of Benedettini monks during the Middle Ages, located over the hills close to the Lago d’Iseo lake. This great ecclesiastical and Noble Families possession was free or franco of trade taxes due to intense land improvement and reclamation made by the monks over the whole territory.
The Winery History
The winery family trusted this land's potentialities, and thanks to the passion and the ability of experienced men who knew the land and the grapevines, succeeded in producing excellent quality wines. As in a precious and refined puzzle, each detail finds its place and contributes to the production of particular, unique and typical wines. The vineyards are situated on a hilly land surrounded by an age-old park. The particular microclimate of this area possesses some peculiar and unique characteristics that encourage superb ripening of the grapes. All the vineyards are planted in "spurred cordons". This winery has chosen a cultivation and irrigation system that sacrifices higher quantity yields in favor of higher quality. Everything is made observing a simple but important word: quality. The Franciacorta wines are refined in French oak barrels and stored in restored ancient cellars beside new ones built to meet the increasing high demand for this wine - for an overall 1500 square meters of cellars.. The fermentation and the maceration process occurs in steel basins where the temperatures are carefully controlled; the bottles are automatically corked and labeled.
Chemicals: Total Sulfites less than 1/5 of upper limit of sulfites allowed for wine
