Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

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. — 11 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.5

NV Probably the best Vermouth, só intense. Love it. — 2 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

This is, as expected, the more structured between the Sassella and the Grumello of the same vintage, but on this night actually preferred the latter. — 2 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

v15. Very good!!! Yeasty nose. Fresh almond and citrus zest fruit. Bright, dry, luscious doughy finish. Small vibrant bubbles. Enjoyable!! — 3 months ago

romo

9.2

First bottle three years ago had more energy. Went sour on day 2. — 3 months ago

Fabio Franchella

9.1

Sehr präzise frucht aus apfel und frischen aprikosen und hauch quitten. Frisch, mineralisch und auch etwas tiefgründig. Eher auf der apéro seite… — 5 months ago

with Xenia

Eve Marie

9.1

A bit too sweet for me not cloying, greatly appreciated by all my Moscato loving friends. — 6 months ago

Ming L

9.3

This Valtellina Superiore opens with crushed wild strawberry, tart cherry, and subtle dried rose, showing remarkable fruit purity and freshness. Medium-bodied, silky juicy red berries infused by fresh herbs dance across the palate with poise and ease. No oak heaviness; just transparent, elegant precision. Lingering finish of redcurrant and mineral dust.

A very pretty and charming alpine Nebbiolo. — 11 days ago

Sagee Aran

9.0

A fantastic every day white for the family meal — 25 days ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.4

Bright acidity. Replay few tannins. Way more an Irish. Tart cherry. 2019. An herbaceousness that is v compelling. Lovely. — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

10

This was perfection. Full stop. Ten points, 100, A plus, whatever scale you want to drag into the room, it all collapses under the same truth: it does not get better than this. The 2016 Ar.Pe.Pe. Sassella Rocce Rosse Riserva was so achingly beautiful, so complete, so internally right, that halfway through I stopped even trying to “evaluate” it and just gave in. What makes it unbearable, in the best way, is how nothing sticks out and yet everything glows. The wine has lift, detail, soul, delicacy, authority, all of it moving at once, all of it perfectly proportioned. It just stands there in complete command of itself, and the longer it sits in the glass the more it seems to reveal that perfection and grace are not opposites. They are partners. Words really do start to fail with a wine like this, because the whole point of the experience is that it reaches past language. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

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

Fabio Franchella

9.0

Eigentlich in einer weinbar.. weiss aber nicht mehr wie sie heisst. Egal…schöner schaumwein! ;) — 6 months ago

with Xenia

Sagee Aran

9.1

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. — 15 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Insane wine. Dried cherry, spice, road tar, dried roses and that haunting alpine Nebbiolo perfume that only Arpepe seems able to deliver. The palate is nimble, precise and unbelievably balanced. Yes, there is tannin, but Arpepe processes tannin through its own lens. Everything feels refined, transparent and perfectly proportioned. The architecture is stunning. There is a slight stretch on the back end right now, but the underlying balance and purity are undeniable. Already 9.6 and just getting started. — 24 days ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

More open knit than the Sassella, total deliciousness and high toned elegance — 2 months ago

Marc Karetsky

9.5

Love this maker. Classic Nebbiolo. — 3 months ago

P Pelissero

9.1

Very nice, smooth Pinot Noir. We drank at home. — 4 months ago

Seth Masterson

9.2

Delicious Chocolate over dried fruit notes with nice dry floral notes. A very nice nebbiolo without face ripping tannins- a good sipper but also would pair well with the lighter side of Italian foods. — 5 months ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Very fragrant with ripe pear, citrus (lemon and lime?), floral, great acidity and balance, big flavors but light on its feet, wonderful Italian Bianco!! — 5 months ago

with Jim