Ca’ del Bosco “Annamaria Clementi” Franciacorta 2016, Franciacorta DOCG, Lombardy, Italy 🇮🇹
Overview
Prestige cuvée Franciacorta from Ca’ del Bosco, crafted using the traditional method and aged extensively on lees. The blend includes Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco, the latter adding a distinctive Italian identity rarely seen in Champagne. The 2016 vintage shows exceptional balance and refinement, delivering the depth and elegance expected from one of Italy’s most iconic sparkling wines.
Aromas & Flavors
White peach, baked apple, citrus zest, toasted brioche, almond pastry, and delicate floral tones. Subtle hints of honey, lemon curd, and crushed stone emerge with air, giving the wine impressive aromatic complexity.
Mouthfeel
Ultra-fine mousse with a creamy yet energetic texture. Structured and layered with vibrant acidity supporting a deep mid-palate. Long, persistent finish with elegance and precision, prestige cuvée level balance that rivals top Champagne houses.
Food Pairings
Lobster or scallop crudo. Oysters with citrus mignonette. Truffle risotto. Branzino or Dover sole. Aged Parmigiano Reggiano
Verdict
A striking example of Franciacorta at its highest level, refined, expressive, and unmistakably luxurious. The structure and finesse easily evoke comparisons with tête de cuvée Champagne, yet the presence of Pinot Bianco adds a subtle Italian nuance that sets it apart.
Did You Know?
Franciacorta requires longer minimum lees aging than Champagne for vintage wines (at least 30 months for vintage expressions), contributing to the creamy texture and complexity found in prestige cuvées like Annamaria Clementi.
🍷 Personal Pick
Absolutely a “whoa factor” sparkling wine, each glass reveals depth and refinement comparable to top Champagne prestige cuvées, yet with a distinctive Italian signature.
— 4 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 “Cuvée Annamaria Clementi” pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is vinous, toasty, and leesy, with ripe tropical fruits, lemon curd, and marzipan. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is super rich and creamy. Fabulous stuff. Drink now. Disgorged Autumn of 2015. — 6 months ago
Wine pairing at Juniper — 5 years ago
Very good. Sugar just right — 6 years ago
Very good. Would pick up a bottle (had at a bunko’s night). Paired well with a lemon meringue pie. Easy drink on its own. — 4 months ago

Light but flavorful low-alcohol Italian quaffer. Excellent. — 5 years ago
love this rich wine! body and citrus flavors — 5 years ago
Pfirschgeschmack mit einer schöner Säure. — 7 years ago
This is a remembrance of Sofia & my trip to Franciacorta & visit to Ca’ del Bosco in 2015.
If Italy has a kind of equivalent to Champagne, it would be Franciacorta. This is not Prosecco. It is made in the traditional method.
It is a beautiful part of Italy with both Lake Garda’s, one smaller (closer) & one much bigger and is a summer haven.
Excuse the fussy pics. I bought a new iPhone 7 just before we left & it had a defective camera.
The nose shows fruit blossoms, pineapple, green, apple, golden apple, white peach, tropical melons, vanilla, frothy cream, some caramel, soft volcanics, chalk & spring flowers setting in greens.
The palate has nice, soft, mousse. Ripe fruits; fruit blossoms, pineapple, green, apple, golden apple, lemon, lime, white peach, tropical melons & mango. Vanilla, frothy cream, some caramel, soft volcanics, sea spray, saline, chalk & spring flowers setting in greens, beautiful, acidity, well balanced, nicely structured & toned with an elegant finish that last a full minute and lands on volcanics. — 13 days ago
2023 vintage. Light-medium/medium body. Gorgeous color. Musky, mountain morning nose. Plenty of flavors in the palate bouncehaus but none of them fall completely out and are forced to wait out a turn. Nice balance framed with intrigue. Existing acidity cuts through cream sauces or garlic butter but pleasant enough to tackle on its own. Very unexpected and the nice price (< $20 USD). Will keep this one on the short list. 4.1.26. — 3 months ago

Rich style. Great expression — 4 years ago
This Lombardian white wine opens with a floral nose, which is quickly joined by the scent of apricots and grapefruit. There is an overriding sense of salinity, with a touch of lanolin as well. On the palate, that salinity comes bursting forth in a nutty, mineral-driven flavor. The acidity is racy enough for shellfish but not sharp enough to hurt the taste buds. If you’d like a wine which comes on like an Albariño and then behaves like a Roussanne before becoming a Sauvignon Blanc, this wine should make you happy. It made me ecstatic. — 5 years ago
Sagee Aran
Pale straw in color, intense (-) nose with pear, citrus and passion fruit notes. Refreshing and balanced. Tasty Lugana for your fried anchovies, sea food with slow cooked tomato sauce pasta and a thin dough Artishok pizza. — 16 days ago