Franciacorta, like Champagne, is both a geographic area as well as a sparkling wine. Awarded the coveted DOCG designation in 1995, Franciacorta is located east of Milan in north-central Italy and extends between Brescia, Lake Garda and Trento, south of Lake Iseo. It is a small area with relatively low production when compared to the Champagne region of France. The Franciacorta region is only about one-tenth the size of the wine growing area of Champagne and its total annual output of about 13 million bottles is minor compared to Champagne’s annual production of some 320 million bottles. The sparkling Franciacorta wines are produced by the classic method of Champagne, called methode champenoise, in which a second fermentation takes place in the bottles. After the initial fermentation, the wines are bottled with some yeast and sugar, which initiates a second fermentation. The bottles are then stored with the necks turned downward and periodically rotated to facilitate separation of the yeasts from the wine. After anywhere from 18 to 35 months, the yeast cells are disgorged and wine from a previous vintage is added to offset the loss from disgorgement. The bottles are recorked and then stored to let the wine further age in the bottle before being released for sale. On offer this week is the . The wine is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Nero. Very shortly after picking, the grapes are pressed softly and fermented in steel vats at a controlled temperature of approximately 18°C. After pressing, a proportion of the Chardonnay is fermented and aged in oak barrels. Non-vintage Franciacorta (NV) may not be released until at least 25 months after harvest, of which 18 months must be in contact with the yeast in the bottle (compared to 15 months in the case of Champagne).

On offer this week is the 2011 Jacopo Biondi Santi Braccale. The wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20 % Merlot – a subtle balance between the austerity of traditional Sangiovese and the roundness of Merlot, perfectly adapted to the Maremma. The vineyards for this wine are 900-1350 feet above sea level with West – Southwest exposure. The grapes are vinified separately with a 10 day maceration that includes malolactic fermentation, then matured in French barrique for 10 months, blended and rested for six additional months in stainless steel containers before bottling. A very fine effort indeed! The 2011 Jacopo Biondi Santi Braccale is available for immediate delivery. There are only 20 cases of this fantastic wine available. To order, please contact us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Luigi Righetti is one Veneto producer that has embraced the French varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. What makes this wine very unique is the manner in which it is produced: similar to the famous Amarone of the region, Sognum is made with semi-dried grapes, which concentrate the fruit flavours and add richness to give it a more robust flavour profile. Sixteen months in oak barrels gives additional complexity by softening the mouthfeel, and also gives a nice accent of vanilla and spices. Think of this as a Super Veneto — the equivalent to a Super Tuscan, made with Cabernet Sauvignon! On offer this week is the 2012 Luigi Righetti Sognum Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 vintage was marked by a very warm summer following a cool wet spring. Good ripeness was achieved although yields were much lower than average. This is a distinctively different Cabernet Sauvignon that will be welcome on cool Fall evenings. The 2012 Luigi Righetti Sognum Cabernet Sauvignon is available for immediate delivery.