Looking for an alternative to Champagne or Australian sparkling during the spring racing carnival? Try franciacorta, Italy's version of champagne. Ca' Del Bosco is one of Italy's finest producers. Cuvee Prestige is its excellent non vintage made from Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and pinot nero, aka pinot noir, and its classy: plenty of fine, persisten bead, ultra fresh with citrus note to the fore, especially lemon zest and grapefruit, some lemon blossom, too, zingy with a backbone of lively acidity but not all harsh. It's great as an aperatif or with canapes. And at this price, it's worth stocking up on a few bottles. Christmas is around the corner. Normally costs $55, available for $40 at Boccaccio Cellars. Jane Faulkner, The Epicure Bargain Bin, Tuesday 25th October 2011
Each year at VinItaly, that country's most important wine show, it is the franciacorta I always check out first to keep up-to-date with vintages and producers. It usually leaves me depressed because most of the wonderful wines I taste are not available in Australia. However, I've long been a devotee of Bellavista, with its beautiful bottle reminiscent of Krug, and several styles are available here albeit some rarer than others, such as the gran cuvee brut rose or the rich chardonnay sparkling known as Saten.
Bellavista is a very fine producer of elegant sparkling wine, and the non-vintage cuvee brut retails for about $65. Another producer I swoon over is Ca' del Bosco, particularly its top cuvee, Annamaria Clementi, and I'd go so far as to say the finest brut made in Franciacorta. It's a breathtaking wine. Ca' del Bosco has been very much a "when-in-Italy" indulgence, but not any more. It is now being imported into Australia.
This one hails from Franciacorta, where Italy's finest sparkling wines are made, from one of the best producers, Ca' del Bosco. Chardonnay is dominant at 80 per cent, delivering fresh apple notes, and yeasty, nutty nuances met with lively bead and superb length. Perfectly balanced, it finishes dry - it is a brut after all - but with plenty of ripeness and richness on the palate. Lovely. Smart bubbles Jane Faulkner, The Age
