Bellavista Alma Assemblage 1 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut, Lombardy

Almonds, baked pears, salted caramel and bread dough on the nose of this delicious sparkling. It’s medium-bodied with silky, fine bubbles and delicious nutty and pastry flavors that evolve to a long, elegant finish with salty and mineral undertones. 86% chardonnay, 13% pinot nero and 1% pinot bianco. Drink now.

93 points James Suckling

Bellavista has long been one of Franciacorta’s standard bearers, founded by Vittorio Moretti in the 1970s and built on a meticulous, vineyard first philosophy. Set among the rolling hills south of Lake Iseo, the estate works a mosaic of parcels across morainic soils, where Chardonnay and Pinot Nero develop both ripeness and freshness. Alma Assemblage 1 sits as a finely tuned expression within the range, blending multiple vineyards and vintages to capture both consistency and detail.

The aromatics are precise and quietly complex. Lemon peel and green apple lead, followed by white peach and a subtle citrus blossom lift. There is a developing savoury layer too, almond, fresh pastry and a hint of hazelnut, with a delicate mineral thread running underneath.

On the palate it is taut and elegant, with a very fine, persistent mousse and a crisp line of acidity that gives the wine real energy. Citrus and orchard fruit move seamlessly into more savoury notes, biscuit, toasted nuts and a faint saline edge, finishing long, dry and beautifully balanced. The Extra Brut style keeps everything focused, allowing the vineyard character and texture to take centre stage.

Winemaking follows the traditional method with real attention to detail, careful selection of base wines, long lees ageing and precise blending across vintages to build both depth and finesse. The result is a sparkling that feels polished and complete without losing its sense of freshness.

This is a versatile partner at the table. Oysters, seafood risotto, grilled fish or even roast chicken all work beautifully, and it also handles dishes with a bit of richness where the acidity can cut through cleanly.

Drinking beautifully now, it will continue to develop over the next five to eight years, gaining more nutty, honeyed complexity while holding its line.