Ricci Curbastro Franciacorta Extra Brut 2012

Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2017 pages 621-622: ***
Tre Bicchieri Award
Ricci Curbastro, founded in 1967, is one of Franciacorta’s oldest estates. Today it is headed by agronomist and oenologist Riccardo, who also chairs the European Federation of Origin Wines and its Italian counterpart the FederDoc. The estate vaunts 27 hectares of vineyards on the finest sites in the production zone, and successfully exports its cuvées all over the world. We gave a well-deserved Tre Bicchieri to the Extra Brut 2012, which goes to join the winery’s trophy collection. A cuvée of equal parts of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, it vaunts a bright straw yellow hue with coppery highlights and a delicate, complex nose with top notes of fruit and elegant hints of barley sugar and vanilla. The full-flavoured palate is deep, firm, and dry, with excellent balance and freshness, making it highly drinkable.