Ricci Curbastro Franciacorta Extra Brut 2011

Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2016 pages 646-647: **
Two Red Glasses – Finalist for Tre Bicchieri Award.
He has given a strong boost to the estate founded by his father Gualberto in 1967, which now vaunts 27 hectares of vineyards on the finest sites in the production zone, and successfully exports its cuvées all over the world. The winery produces a comprehensive range of Franciacortas and local wines. The Extra Brut style obviously comes naturally to the estate, as once again shown by the 2011 vintage, which put up a fine performance in our finals. It is an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, aged for 42 months on the lees before disgorgement. The result is a lovely coppery straw colour, with a complex nose of red berries and flowers, followed by wholemeal and oriental spices, and an elegant, close-focused, linear palate. The other wines are all good.