2014 Ca del Bosco Franciacorta Riserva Annamaria Clementi Sparkling, Lombardy

When wine is this good you must stop and just appreciate how much work goes into making something so delicious. The wine opens with spiced apples, freshly baked pastry dough, acacia honey, oak spice and wet stone. The palate is giving yet still holding back with stone fruit showing through with hints of hazelnut, cream and ginger. Drink now–2035.

98 points Jeff Porter wineenthusiast.com Nov 2023

In 1964 Annamaria Clementi purchased a small house called ‘Ca’del bosc’ and two hectares of land, surrounded by chestnut woods. The first vineyards were planted in 1968 and two red wines were released in the early 1970’s. Her son Maurizio Zanella, inspired by a trip to Champagne at just 17 years of age, returned with a vision to make great sparkling wine. What was once a small house in the countryside has since grown to be the eminent sparkling wine in Italy and one of the best in the world.

VINEYARDS OF PROVENANCE

10 Chardonnay vineyards planted an average of 32 years ago located in the municipalities of Erbusco, Adro, Corte Franca, Iseo and Passirano.

Only the finest grapes from the various crus are earmarked for this icon wine. And only in the finest years. Meticulous vinification and very lengthy bottle refinement, at least seven years on yeasts. This is how a great wine is created, unique, magnificently golden and with ultra-fine perlage. Extraordinarily complex bouquet, exceptionally full and persistent taste. An absolute Franciacorta.