Straw, yellow color; Golden Delicious apple, lemon, grapefruit, pear, citrus, brioche, almond, minerality on the nose and palate.
Brut; no tannin; very crisp acidity. Very fine, persistent bubbles. Medium body; creamy in the mouth with distinct minerality and pinch of saline from mid-palate to extended finish. Blend of 60% chardonnay, 30% pinot blanc, 9% pinot noir, 1% erbamat (an indigenous grape in Brescia region of Italy notable for high acidity0. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed in the spring by the “en tirage” process with the start of a slow second fermentation in bottle, the traditional Franciacorta method. Bottles are stacked for at least 24 months—32 months from harvest—for long exposure on the lees, engendering smoothness and bread notes. Very dry liqueur de dosage (5 g/L), followed by an additional several months in the cellar. 12.5% ABV
Franciacorta is an historical region in the Province of Brescia, Lombardy, in northern Italy. The region extends from Mount Orfano in the southwest to the shores of Lake Iseo in the north, and from the river Oglio in the western border to the city of Brescia in the eastern border. It is neither a single town nor a single municipality, but rather a wine region comprising 19 municipalities. The Franciacorta DOCG covers around 5,400 acres. It is about 43 miles east of Milan.
Franciacorta was the first Italian wine made with bottle fermentation (traditional method) to achieve DOCG status, the highest designation of quality in Italian wine. The region’s exceptional wine quality derives from its glacial terroir and Lake Iseo’s moderating climate influence. Its wines are considered Italy’s finest sparkling wines in terms of complexity and finesse. It is one of only ten European appellations that are allowed to use only a place name without qualifiers to denote the wine (Champagne is another). Franciacorta is to Italian sparkling wine, traditional method, as Champagne is to French sparkling wine.
Ricci Curbastro represents 18 generations of winemaking tradition. The family has cultivated grapes in Franciacorta since the 13th century. The current patriarch, Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, was among the 11 founding producers of the Franciacorta DOC in 1967 and served as President when it achieved DOCG status in 1995.
The estate has practiced sustainable viticulture since 1992. In 2017, it became one of the first nine companies in Italy and the first in Lombardy to be certified as “Sustainable Winery.” The winery notes it is “pursuing the achievement of the subtle balance between the various needs, including full customer satisfaction, cost optimization, personnel and work environment safety, creation of partnership relationships with suppliers and the local community, full respect for the environment and protection of resources.” The winery has produced most of its electrical needs since 2008 with use of solar panels.
Ricci Curbastro Franciacorta Brut NV DOCG is textbook Franciacorta—balanced, elegant, refreshing, clean. This is classic quality from Italy’s premier bottle-fermented wine region. Very vigorous bubbles; practice caution when opening. $38-47
Pairing—Excels as an aperitif with hors d’oeuvres; Italian antipasta—prosciutto, salami, aged cheese; fried calamari, smoked salmon and caviar. Sparkling is excellent pairing for almost any food. Pasta with clams or mussels, linguine with seafood and light cream sauces, grilled or poached fish; sushi, sashimi; oysters on the half shell; shrimp cocktail, grilled prawns. Ravioli or agnolotti filled with vegetables or fish; risotto with seafood or vegetables; pasta with light cream (avoid overly rich sauces). Simple white meat dishes. Cheese—Fresh mozzarella, burrata, fresh ricotta, mascarpone; parmigiano reggiano, aged cheddar, pecorino romano, aged gouda; taleggio, gorgonzola, fontina; brie, camembert, triple-cream cheeses.
