The colour is medium straw. The perlage is delicate. On the nose a hint of Danish pastry, with some apples and pears. In the mouth not much, beside the bubbly sensation. No aftertaste worth mentioning neither.
This Franciacorta sparkling wine is produced by Cantina Chiara Ziliani with a blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir.
Chiara Ziliani shares the family name with the oenologist that first produced a high-quality sparkling wine in Franciacorta, a winegrowing area long dedicated to still table wines. In fact, the oenologist that in 1955 proposed to Guido Berlucchi to produce in Franciacorta a sparkling wine, according to the tradition developed in Champagne, was Franco Ziliani. Berlucchi accepted. The two joined forces with Berlucchi’s friend Giorgio Lanciani and the same year founded Guido Berlucchi & C. After some unsatisfactory vintages, 1961 finally saw the corking of three thousand bottles of Pinot di Franciacorta. Franciacorta was born!
Nowadays, the products of this wine-producing area of Lombardy are regarded as Italy’s finest sparkling wines and commands prices similar to Champagne wines.
I tasted this wine last Thursday during the second of the three online masterclass I’m taking with Paolo Basso. The bottle we tasted disappointed us, but given the enthusiastic comments of Mr Basso for this small producer, I will give it another try. Maybe the specific bottle had some issue.
The previous week we tasted a Prosecco, which we found outstanding: “Il Soler”, made by Marsuret winery.
Both wines are sold by Paolo Basso Wine: Ziliani “C” Brut for 24 CHF, Il Soler for 16 CHF.
Country: Italy
Region: Franciacorta
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Type: Sparkling
Vintage: N/A
Producer: Cantina Chiara Ziliani
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 2/5