Score: 87/100
This Franciacorta sparkling wine from the Lombardy region of Northern Italy is a blend of 80% Chardonnay with 20% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir). Grapes are sourced from Grand Cru vineyards on the gentle hills of Passirano.
After the first fermentation and 7-month resting in small stainless tanks, it was bottled for the second fermentation and aged on its lees for a long 30-month.
The dosage is one of a Brut sparkling wine.
Tasting Notes
This rosé sparkling wine comes in a delicate, and rather pale salmon color. This subtle ‘gris’ hues give it a definite elegance and a certain feel of uniqueness.
The nose is mainly floral (acacia and elderflower), citrus (lime), and quite vegetal (the green aromas in lime, and yes some clear grassy scents).
Palate is dry, dominated by a mineral acidity, well rounded by decent body but it stays on the fresh acidic side of things.
Again, some green lime flavors dominate, together with here some fresh acidic red berries that brings a sense of fruitiness here: redberry and gooseberry.
Slightly-drying tannins to the finish give it a savory feel reinforcing the crisp acidity.
Overall
A rosé sparkling wine that delivers in citrusy freshness and acidic tension for lovers of nearly-raw minerality and of fresh citrus characters.
It feels more like a white bubbly, in reality, than a rosé, which in fact isn’t necessarily a bad thing!
Although I was much convinced by the finesse and depth of Ca d’Or’s while Noble Cuvée, I am more reserved on this one and would love to taste accompanied with the right carefully-matched foods.
Wine & Food Pairing
This Franciacorta demands to be paired with creamy yet delicate foods.
Cream or a certain richness in the food the wine’s acidity will delightfully cut through, but not too flavorsome a dish not to overpower the subtle aromas in the wine. There clearly are some fascinating wine & food combinations to find with this wine.
Please let me know your thoughts