Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/615498
{ SOMMjournal.com } 69 Il Mosnel 2010 Franciacorta Brut Satèn ($21) 100% Chardonnay DAVID BOWLER WINE (NY, NJ, CA, IL) "Pale gold and bright bright, honeycomb, beeswax, straw and waxy, golden delicious apples on the nose. Crisp and fresh with bubbles that don't over - whelm and more of that apple character pulling through lots of zesty layers of lemon—the fruit is short but clean fol- lowed by Chamomile tea on the finish." —Amanda McCrossin, PRESS Restaurant, St. Helena, CA Contadi Castaldi NV Franciacorta Brut ($23) 80 % Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Nero, 10% Pinot Bianco TERRA MORETTI TRADING USA, INC. "Bright lemon and lime citrus mingle with underripe peach and lofty spice character. Creamy and smooth with generous bub - bles, tart with hints of almond on the finish." —Jonathan Cristaldi, Deputy Editor, THE TASTING PANEL & The SOMM Journal Ronco Calino NV Franciacorta Satén ($28) 100% Chardonnay MICHAEL SKURNIK (NY, NJ, CT, RI, ME, GA, SC, AL); MARTIN & COMPANY WINES (KY, OH) THE WINE COMPANY (MN) WOODBERRY WINE (MI); IMPORT! WINES INC. (WI) "On the nose, crisp min- erality, tart green apple, seas spray, green olive, yellow flowers, white nectarines and lemon blossoms. Elegant with persistent bubbles, ripe nectarine, intense minerality, leesy, cheesy and a ripe unctuous finish." —Matt Montrose, Sommelier, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco Le Marchesine NV Franciacorta Brut ($29) 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Bianco, 15% Pinot Nero LYRA LLC FINE WINE IMPORT "A refined wine from small, family-owned Le Marchesine, this elegant Brut offers initial impressions of lemon peel that give way to gorgeous floral aromas of lime blossom. Stone fruits and nuances of exotic spices combine on the palate to add complexity and it has the backbone to stand up to dishes such as pork ten - derloin with grilled peaches." —Geralyn Brostrom, Co-Founder, Italian Wine Central, Napa Valley, CA Ferghettina NV Franciacorta Brut ($33) 95% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir EMPSON USA "Grassy and savory, crisp quince and red apple, high minerality. This is an over- performer, very crisp, with grass and a silky finish of subtle hazelnut notes. Dense and textured, aggressive and weighty but racy." —Cara Patricia, Northern California Imports Manager, Domaine Select Wine & Spirits, San Francisco, CA Bellavista 2008 Franciacorta Brut ($36) 72% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Nero TERRA MORETTI TRADING USA, INC. "Roasted nuts and savory spices, coffee notes, dry, nicely textured, earthy, over- ripe pear and peach notes under a bitter finish boasting a roasted coffee bean complexity." —Christian Oggenfuss, chief education officer, Napa Valley Wine Academy, Napa Valley, CA Majolini Altèra NV Franciacorta Brut Rosé ($40) 100% Pinot Noir FRANCIACORTA IMPORTS (NY), EURO WINES/CALIPARI IMPORTS (FL) "Rhubarb and fresh fennel, dried strawberry, hibiscus tea, sage, and field herbs, toasted oatmeal and very ripe nectarines on the nose. Soft long bubble strains, cheeky acidity and front-end phenols— pomegranate juice, rose petal, ocean spray, salty, ripe fruits, watermelon wild raspberry. A very well made wine." —Ryan Stetins, Restaurant General Manager and Hotel Wine Buyer, The Ritz Carlton and Parallel 37, San Francisco, CA Montenisa NV Franciacorta Brut Rosé ($42) Grapes: 100% Pino Nero STE MICHELLE WINE ESTATES "Strong minerality, yeasty earthy truffle and mush- room notes, honeyed unripe raspberries and strawberries, slight her- baceous rosemary aromas, pithy on the palate, bright texture, unripe strawberry, peach and a long mineral finish with spicy white pepper." —Beth Cash, Wine Club Directress, Acme Fine Wines, Napa Valley, CA Guido Berluchhi NV Franciacorta "'61'" Rosé ($45) Grapes: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay TERLATO WINES "Aromatics are more reduc- tive at first, but open to orange peel and pomegran- ate with some herbal qualities after a swirl in the glass. Has wonderful texture and notes of ripe citrus continue to dominate. There is an astringent aspect to this wine that provides a sense of structure, which is welcome because the acidity is not very pronounced. Still, a wonderful aromatic experience and a good wine to enjoy chilled in hot weather." – Davis Smith, Sommelier, Acquerello, San Francisco Barone Pizzini 2011 Franciacorta Brut Satèn ($47) 100% Chardonnay LEONARDO LOCASCIO SELECTION/ WINEBOW GROUP "Yellow apples and white pear, soft and friendly fruit aromas with a crisp citrus finish. Wet bread dough, and a crisp long finish with bright acidity." —Nicolas Cadavid, Sommelier, PRESS Restaurant, St. Helena, CA TASTING REPORT PHOTO COURTESY OF CONSORZIO PER LA TUTELA DEL FRANCIAORTA