BEST OF Franciacorta

Appellation without weaknesses

19 May, 2021

of Marcus Hofschuster in Tasting

Franciacorta is the most important region for bottle-fermented sparkling wines in Italy. It also lives up to its reputation as the "Champagne of Italy" because it has a very similar portfolio of grape varieties. Here, too, two of the three main varieties are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, only the third is different, albeit closely related: Pinot Bianco instead of Pinot Meunier.

And yet the wines taste completely different. This is due on the one hand to the soils - while chalk predominates in Champagne, Franciacorta lies between Lago d'Iseo and Brescia at the extreme edge of the Po Valley on the terminal moraine of an ice-age glacier - but above all to the completely different climate. In Franciacorta, the climate is still continental, but with clear Mediterranean influences. A Franciacorta therefore usually tastes much warmer and softer than a good champagne. The fruitiness is also more pronounced here, while the yeast aromas are rarely as pronounced as in the French model.

As a result, you also have to be much more careful with the dosage. While top champagne can absorb six to eight grams of sugar almost without a trace, Franciacorta dosed in this way almost always tastes noticeably pleasant to sweet. So it is only logical that more and more producers have significantly reduced their dosage in recent years and now often do without it altogether. Fortunately, this also applies to the "Satèn", which used to have a relatively high dosage and were therefore avoided by many a die-hard sparkling wine lover. Today, among the Satèn produced exclusively from white grapes and with somewhat less carbonic acid, there are also bone-dry variants, including some of excellent quality.

Consorzio per la Tutela del Franciacorta

Which brings us to the most important news of all: There don't seem to be any really weak wines in the whole of Franciacorta. Of the 180 wines we tasted for this BEST OF, just one was "only" good, the rest at least very good. Alone 34 received 90 points and more. We had never heard of some of the producers whose wines inspired us before our tastings. In short: the whole tasting was a pleasure!

Many of our favourites are difficult or impossible to find in Germany. Franciacorta is still considered hard to sell by many merchants. This cannot even be due (always the first suspicion in Germany) to the prices, which are often very affordable given the qualities on offer. In any case, this has to change. Otherwise, unfortunately, unfortunately, we will see ourselves forced to repeat this tasting soon!

All wines were tasted blind in our tasting room; some of them several times, as even first-class sparkling wine can definitely benefit from air (and sometimes tastes even better on the second day than on the first!) As always, we present the best results here. Links to all wines with detailed tasting notes as well as their producers can be found at the end of the respective best lists.

BEST OF Franciacorta Franciacorta

Uberti — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Dequinque" Cuvée 10 Vendemmie - Magnum (Deg.01/2019) 186.00 €

Biondelli — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Satén" 23.00 €

Majolini Srl — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "d'Arborea Vita Vivente" (Deg.: 2020)

Camilucci — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Ammonites" (Deg.: 12/2020) Up to 25.00 €

La Boscaiola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Cuvée "Nelson Cenci" Up to 38.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Cuvée "Prestige Edizione 43" (Deg.:Autunno 2020) 89 WP very good 31.00 €

Tenuta Martinelli — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Benedetta Buizza" 16.00 €

Azienda Agricola Mirabella srl — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG "Satén" Deg.: 2020 19.00 €

Azienda Agricola Le Quattro Terre ss — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Sinequal" (Deg.: 2020) 24.00 €

Marzaghe Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Superno" (Deg.: 2020) 30.00 €

Mantì — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Up to 35.00 €

Majolini Srl — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Disobbedisco" (Deg.: 2020)

Majolini Srl — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Blanc de Noir (Deg.: 2020)

Ronco Calino — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut (Deg.:01/20) Up to 32.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Doppio Erre Di" 24.00 €

Azienda Agricola Le Quattro Terre ss — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Luna Mea" Satèn (Deg.: 2020) 22.00 €

Marzaghe Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Premier" Satèn (Deg.: 2020) 23.00 €

Az. Agr. Franca Contea — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Cuvée Primus" 24.00 €

Azienda Agricola Bredasole — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "A lique'" 20.00 €

Tenuta Montenisa — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Rosé (Deg.: 2020) 25.00 €

Castello di Gussago La Santissima S.S. Societa’ Agricola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Noble Noir" (Deg.: 05/19) 22.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Blanc de Blanc 28.00 €

Barone Pizzini — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Golf 1927" 19.90 €

Uberti — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Francesco I" (Deg. 07/2020) 22.00 €

1701 Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Nature Up to 24.00 €

Barone Pizzini — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Animante" 19.90 €

Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Rosé (Deg.: 2020) Up to 20.00 €

La Boscaiola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Zero" Up to 30.00 €

Corte Aura — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé Up to 30.00 €

Castel Faglia — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut 88 WP very good

Biondelli — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut 20.00 €

Marzaghe Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Treha" (Deg.: 2020) 20.00 €

Cellatica – Gussago Soc. Coop. Agricola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Satén (Deg.: 06/2020) 12.90 €

Ronco Calino — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Satén" (Deg. 11/19) Up to 34.00 €

Bonfadini Franciacorta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Carpe Diem" Satèn 88 WP very good Up to 25.00 €

Castello di Gussago La Santissima S.S. Societa’ Agricola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Noble Blanc" (Deg.: 06/19) 22.00 €

Mantì — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG "Satén" Up to 35.00 €

La Montina S.R.L. — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Satén" (Deg: 2020) Up to 26.00 €

Azienda Agricola Le Quattro Terre ss — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Grano Salis" (Deg.: 2020) 19.00 €

Castel Faglia — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Cuvée Monogram Satén" 88 WP very good

IBARISÈI — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Cuvée "Sempiterre" (Deg.: 01/20) Up to 23.00 €

Abrami Elisabetta — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Rosé" 88 WP very good Up to 30.00 €

La Boscaiola — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "La Via della Seta - Satén" (Deg: 2020) Up to 28.00 €

Uberti — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Francesco I" Rosé (Deg. 03/2018) 23.00 €

Uberti — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Francesco I" (Deg. 07/2020) 22.00 €

Corte Aura — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Rosé" Up to 29.00 €

Azienda Agricola Bredasole — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut Rosé "Pine" 20.00 €

Azienda Agricola Bredasole — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Quarantuno Racconti®" 20.00 €

All wines

BEST OF Franciacorta Franciacorta Vintage/Millesimato

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Annamaria Clementi" (Deg.:Estate 2020) 93 WP excellent 105.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Vintage Collection" (Deg.: Autunno 2020) 92 WP excellent 47.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy 2009 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Decem Annis" Up to 75.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Vintage Collection" (Deg.: Primavera 2020) 92 WP excellent 47.00 €

Franciacorta Bèlon Wine — Lombardy 2009 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Pas Dosé "120 Mesi - Del Fondatore" Up to 110.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Vintage Collection - Satèn" (Deg.: Autunno 2020) 91 WP excellent 47.00 €

Biondelli — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Premiére Dame" 35.00 €

Lo Sparviere — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut (Deg.:04-2020) Up to 36.00 €

Corte Aura — Lombardy 2012 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Insé" Up to 40.00 €

Tenuta Montenisa — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Conte Aymo" Blanc de Noir (Deg.: 2020) 44.00 €

IBARISÈI — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Natura" (Deg.:02/20) Up to 29.00 €

Camilucci — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Anthologie Blanc" (Deg. 11/2020) Up to 35.00 €

Barone Pizzini — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Dosage zero "Bagnadore" 40.00 €

Uberti — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Dosage zero "Sublimis" (Deg. 02/2020) 38.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Le Millèsime" 32.00 €

Marzaghe Franciacorta — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Millesimato" 35.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Crisalis" 38.00 €

Battista Cola — Lombardy 2014 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero 21.00 €

IBARISÈI — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Mariadri" (Deg.:Winter 2019/2020) Up to 35.00 €

Tenuta Montenisa — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Donna Cora" Satèn (Deg.: 2020) 28.00 €

Antica Cantina Fratta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Essence Nature" (Deg.: 01/2020) 90 WP excellent Up to 28.00 €

Azienda Agricola Le Quattro Terre ss — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Brut "940" (Deg.: 2019) 45.00 €

Ferghettina — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Up to 38.00 €

Uberti — Lombardy 2012 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Comari del Salem" (Deg. 12/2019) 36.00 €

1701 Franciacorta — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Dosage zero Up to 58.00 €

Majolini Srl — Lombardy 2014 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Vintage" (Deg.: 2020)

Azienda Agricola Villa Franciacorta — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Selezione" 45.00 €

Bonfadini Franciacorta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG "Aurora" Rosé 90 WP excellent Up to 60.00 €

Azienda Agricola Mirabella srl — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Demetra" Deg.: 2020 26.00 €

La Boscaiola — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "L'insolita annata" Millesimato Up to 40.00 €

Derbusco Cives — Lombardy 2013 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Grande Taille" 40.00 €

Tenuta Montenisa — Lombardy 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Brut "Contessa Maggi" (Deg.: 2018) 44.00 €

Turra Franciacorta — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut Satèn (Deg.: 11/20) Up to 21.00 €

Turra Franciacorta — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Millesimato" (Deg.: 03/20) Up to 26.00 €

Franciacorta Bèlon Wine — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Instinct" Up to 33.00 €

Franciacorta Bèlon Wine — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Satén Instinct" Up to 35.00 €

Centinari — Lombardy 2018 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero (Deg.:02/21)

Turra Franciacorta — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut (Deg.: 03/20) Up to 18.00 €

Al Rocol — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero "Castellini" (Deg.: 01/2020) 20.00 €

Lorenzo Faccoli & Figli — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Zerotre" (Deg. 02/20) 34.00 €

Antica Cantina Fratta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Essence Rosé" (Deg.: 09/2020) 89 WP very good Up to 28.00 €

Castello di Gussago La Santissima S.S. Societa’ Agricola — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Inganni" Rosé (Deg.: 10/19) 24.00 €

La Torre — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Millesimato" (Deg.:12/20) 24.00 €

IBARISÈI — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Brut Satèn (Deg.:09/19) Up to 26.00 €

Fratelli Berlucchi — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Brut Nature 30.00 €

Azienda Agricola Villa Franciacorta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Cuvette" 30.00 €

Barone Pizzini — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Satèn" 26.80 €

Ferghettina — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Rosé" Up to 32.00 €

Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut Satèn

Azienda Agricola Ricci Curbastro — Lombardy 2010 Franciacorta DOCG Dosage zero (Deg: 0220) 40.00 €

Azienda Agricola Bredasole — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Anphor" 19.50 €

Majolini Srl — Lombardy 2016 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Electo" (Deg.: 2020)

Majolini Srl — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Aligi Sassu" (Deg.: 2020)

La Montina S.R.L. — Lombardy 2012 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Pas Dosé (Deg: 2020) Up to 45.00 €

Azienda Agricola Villa Franciacorta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé "Diamant" 30.00 €

All wines

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	100 WP unique Wines that can only be made differently, but not better.
	95-99 WP great World-class wines whose depth, complexity, character and expressiveness give an unforgettable, sensual experience.
	90-94 WP excellent First class wines that are among the best of their kind. They are characterized by purity, harmony, depth and character.
	85-89 WP very good Remarkable wines with personality, expression, as well as a certain complexity and depth. They deserve every wine lover's attention.
	80-84 WP good Clean, harmonious, at best typical wines.
	75-79 WP passable
	70-74 WP schwach
	60-69 WP insufficient
	50-59 WP unacceptable

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BEST OF Franciacorta

Appellation without weaknesses

BEST OF Franciacorta Franciacorta

BEST OF Franciacorta Franciacorta Vintage/Millesimato

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EVENTS NEAR YOU

100 WP unique

95-99 WP great

90-94 WP excellent

85-89 WP very good

80-84 WP good

75-79 WP passable

70-74 WP schwach

60-69 WP insufficient

50-59 WP unacceptable