Score: 91/100
This Franciacorta sparkling wine from the Lombardy region of Northern Italy is a blend of 55% Chardonnay with 45% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir).
Grapes were sourced from a Grand Cru vineyard located within the walls of the Castle on a particularly well-exposed and breezy plot of stony soil that is moderately calcareous and well-drained.
It is a single vintage bubbly from the peculiar year 2008 characterized by major climatic changes.
This is the most sophisticated expression of Ca d’Or’s savoir-faire in terms of sparkling winemaking, the one with the longest aging in the bottle, 48 months.
But what is the best Ca d’Or Franciacorta wine really worth? The answer is in the…
Tasting Notes
This vintage cuvée (Millesimato say the Italians, understand Millésimé if you’re more into French wine terms) Franciacorta sparkling wine comes in a bright gold color, shiny and quite intense with light brown hues showing we are here with a wine that has gone through some maturation in oak.
The nose is intensely scented showing some evolution with a rather-complex aromatic profile.
The dominant notes are sweet spices (nutmeg with a touch cinnamon), toasted nuts (hazelnut), and creamy and buttery characters.
In the background only, are ripe citrus tones of confit lemon and orange peel, but they do provide freshness and a nice fruity richness.
On the palate, this Franciacorta is all about opulence of the oily texture, and the richness of buttery and nutty flavors. Bubbles are fine coated by an ample body, while butter and spicy creamy notes explode on the back of your mouth providing a powerful finish on notes of oak and mature ripe fruit.
It is dry, but despite the absence of dosage (added sugar after disgorgement), it feels perfectly balanced and sweetened enough by the natural ripeness of the fruit it was made from.
The balance is good with a decent intensity, but somewhat lacking some minerality and tension to freshen up the palate and underline the fruity characters that are in the wine but a little too shy.
Overall
A Franciacorta wine that offers power and flavor intensity of rich ripe fruit that has been aged in oak, and turned into a complex and layered sparkling wine.
Spices, toasted nuts, and a wealth of creamy, and leesy tones combine with fine bubbles and oily texture to provide a rich and intense experience for lovers of exuberant secondary characters.
Clearly the best Franciacorta by Ca d’Or wines.
Enjoy 🙂
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