Grapes
100% Chardonnay. This is a Metodo Classico (Traditional Method) sparkling wine from the Gussago area of Lombardy, Italy.
Farming
Organic (uncertified) farming with minimal use of copper and sulfur, focused on 18-year-old vines grown in clay and limestone-rich soils. The producer, Alessandra Divella, is known for her uncompromising, small-scale, natural approach.
Winemaking
This wine is unique as it is produced using the Solera Method, blending multiple vintages (e.g., 2014 to 2019). The base wine is spontaneously fermented in neutral barriques. The Solera-aged wine is bottled for the second fermentation and then aged sur lie for a minimum of 45 months (over 3.5 years). It is released with Zero Dosage (0 g/L residual sugar). It is typically unfined, unfiltered, and made with no added sulfur.
Tasting Notes
A profound and complex sparkling wine with a distinctly oxidative profile due to the Solera aging process. The palate is full, creamy, and enveloping, but maintained by a pulsing, brisk energy and mineral cut. Aromas include toasted brioche, lemon confit, dried herbs, candied citrus, and blossom honey. The texture is luxurious and the finish is long, complex, and savory, with a pronounced saline minerality.
Scores