Score: 91/100
Franciacorta Satèn is a specific style of Franciacorta sparkling wine, meant to be softer than other styles.
It must be a Blanc de Blancs made with only white grape varieties Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco permitted, and only 4.5 atmospheres of CO2 pressure instead of 6. The slightly lighter fizziness makes the palate smoother.
At La Montina, the Franciacorta Satèn is 100% Chardonnay, made with grapes sourced from some of the estate’s best and oldest vineyards. They benefit from micro-climate due to their proximity to the Lago d’Iseo.
As for some winemaking facts, the final blend includes different cuvée from different years, 30% of which had their first fermentation in wood.
In the winery’s range of wines, each cuvée come in a different distinctive and brightly-colored label. The Satèn picked the joyful and appealing turquoise.
So how good is this La Montina Franciacorta Satèn?
The answer is in the tasting notes:
The wine comes in a bright yellow color, good intensity, tiny little bubbles…
Aroma on the nose is bright and light, lifted, and refreshing even to smell!
Delicate floral notes of blossom complement subtle lemon/lime tones giving the impression, putting your nose in the glass that you’re entering a tropical garden in a greenhouse filled with blossoming citrus trees. A heavenly smell!
Palate is more full-bodied and intense that the nose suggested. Solid acidity drives the whole mouthfeel with enjoyable tension finishing on a citrus feel. But there’s also a palate-coating oily texture highlighting the wine comes from rich ripe fruit.
Flavors don’t contradict this impression, as the wine is filled with loads of intense yet elegant flavors of citrus but also ripe stonefruit like white peach, apricot. Peep fruits are there too: pear, ripe apple, and more… !!
Fine bubbles, velvety texture complement this zesty palate well.
Overall
A heavenly enjoyable sparkling wine that absolutely delights with its wide and delicate spectrum of floral and fruity aromas and flavors. Tasting it is like walking through gardens of blossoming trees in an orchard filled with citrus and stonefruit species.
Great balance on an acidic tension complements the picture very well, supported by a solid body and an aromatic intensity that are not often encountered in sparklings.
Definitely a wine with a unique edge. A wine to experience then!
A 91/100 score in absolute, but a good 93/100 in elegance and sheer hedonistic enjoyment this wine provides. Between me and you (because I sincerely love Champagne and have very good friends there), this wine has things you wouldn’t find in any Champagne, not necessarily better, but different. The ‘unique edge’ I was talking about…
‘Bulk buy’ like some would say, though unfortunately you won’t find a lot of this for sale. If you do though, try it I’d say.
Enjoy 🙂 JM
Learn more about the producing winery and all their wine reviews at Tenuta La Montina Franciacorta winery profile:
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