Franciacorta Brut Blanc de Blancs, Cavalleri, Erbusco, Lombardia

Franciacorta Brut Blanc de Blancs, Cavalleri, Erbusco, Lombardia

Product: 14321
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Franciacorta Brut Blanc de Blancs, Cavalleri, Erbusco, Lombardia

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Description

100% Chardonnay grown on the 45ha Cavalleri estate in the heart of the morainic Franciacorta region, first produced in 1982, this is the family's signature wine: a pure, wonderfully ripe lemon beauty, with distinctive toasted notes arising from the 30 months ageing 'sur lattes' (the wine is made in the same way as Champagne, with manual remuage), 20% of the blend comes from reserve 2008, 2007 and 2006 vintages, with 10% fermented in large oak barrels (botte).

Consequently there's a fuller bodied feel, the ripe Chardonnay fruit richly expressed; the purity of the wine stemming from using only 50% press juice, while Italy's warm summers ensuring juicy fruit generosity and slightly lower acidity. I applaud the way the family have chosen to add only 3 grams of dosage, ensuring a ripe fruited yet dry finish. A tremendous wine that is both full, yet delicate and pretty at the same time. Fine and exceedingly drinkable. A great advert for Franciacorta from the region's finest producer. Bravo!
David Berry Green Champagne-style sparkling wine from Lombardy, 100% Chardonnay giving ripe lemon fruit in this warm climate, and toasty notes from 30 months lees ageing.
Edwin Dublin, London Shop Manager

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate88/100
The non-vintage Franciacorta Brut Blanc de Blancs initially shows a very tonic and citric side to Chardonnay. Yet, the bouquet reveals itself to be very different from most of the other Franciacorta sparklers you will find. As it warms, the wine becomes strongly redolent of baking spice, spicy saffron and crushed cinnamon stick. Indeed, its aromas recall creme caramel or almond pastry. Only 10% sees oak although it feels like more than that. This bottle was disgorged in the spring of 2013. Drink: 2014-2017.
Monica Larner - 30/12/2013 Read more
Jancis Robinson MW16.5/20
Lots of drive and energy. Some autolysis. Very fine bead. Some richness but not sweet. Just falls away a little early but it's very well made.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com, 9 Sep 2013


Tight fizz and bone dry and respectable. Very clean. But without that much complexity.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com, 4 Dec 2012 Read more

About this WINE

Cavalleri, Lombardy

Cavalleri, Lombardy

The Cavalleri family has owned land in the centre of the Franciacorta zone, in Erbusco, Lombardia, since 1450, as evidenced by a deed preserved in the family archive.In the same archive is stored a deed of purchase of the vineyard Rampaneto in 1842, even today the cru, and also the project concerning the division of inheritance (1904) of Nob. Cav.Giuseppe Paolo Cavalleri among his sons Attilio and Giovanni. This act shows a structure suitable for a production winery already important at the time, although until 1967, the year of recognition of Franciacorta DOC, white wines and red wines produced were sold in bulk.

After the advent of ‘Disciplinare del Franciacorta’ Cavalleri started to bottle from 1968 and the company acquired its present name "Gian Paolo e Giovanni Cavalleri". Gian Paolo & Giovanni, father and son realized the new cellar, leaving the historical properties within the family mansion, today the city hall of Erbusco. In the new winery, in 1979, the first 6000 bottles of Franciacorta, which in those days could still be called ‘method champenoise’. The 1980s witnessed investment in a new cantina and in more vineyards, taking the total to 45ha.

In 1990 Giovanni Cavalleri with other enlightened producers of Franciacorta, founded the Consorzio Volontario di Franciacorta, in which he had also played the role of president. In all these years the family, Maria and Giulia, daughters of Giovanni, joined the company and lately also grandchildren Francesco and Diletta, with the cooperation of the sales manager Aldo Pagnoini and the winemaker Giampaolo Turra, developed with care and commitment the house style. It’s a style that’s ripe, pure, natural but also dry, incorporating relatively low levels of pressed juice, low levels of liqueur/sweet dosage, and low sulphur. They also partially ferment in large barrels of slavonian oak, as opposed to the more common use of barriques. The results are excellent.

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Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.

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