Berlucchi - Franciacorta '61' Nature 2016 750ml

Dedicated to the most attentive connoisseurs, it is a vintage with zero dosage that, when paired, enhances complex first courses and filled pastas, main courses of meats and poached fish, and aged cheeses as well.

GRAPES

Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Noir (30%), grown in the estate vineyards of Arzelle, Rovere, San Carlo, and Ragnoli, all planted to a high density of 10,000 vines per hectare.

YIELD

8,000 kg of grapes/hectare, with 30%
yield in must, equivalent to 3,200 bottles/hectare.

VINIFICATION

The clusters are given a gradual, gentle pressing, yielding multi-quality fractions of must. Fermentation is in stainless steel, then the finest lots of wine mature 6 months sur lie in oak barrels.

MATURATION

The cuvée is assembled, in the spring following the harvest, with base wines 100% of the same growing year. The wine re-ferments and matures sur lie in the bottle for a minimum of 5 years, followed by a further 6 months after disgorging.

STYLE

Zero dosage.

SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS: APPEARANCE

Generous, creamy mousse with a delicate, supple bead and a lingering crown of pin-point bubbles. Intense straw yellow, with impressive herita- ge-gold highlights. Stylish and elegant, opening to ripe apricot and melon, which yield to fresh-baked petits fours and citrussy notes of candied citron. Superbly balanced, with a magisterial structure, judicious acidity, dynamic progression, and long-linge- ring, savoury finish that all combine to create a wine with a stunning, complex personality.

PAIRINGS

Heightens the character of elaborate first courses and filled pastas, main courses of meats and poached fish, and aged cheeses as well.