Ca' del Bosco : Annamaria Clementi 2016

The finesse and expression of an exceptional Franciacorta by Ca' del Bosco

The estate
Founded in 1964 by Albano Zanella and Annamaria Clementi in Erbusco, Ca' del Bosco now spans a vineyard in Franciacorta (Lombardy). Led by Maurizio Zanella, the founders' son, the estate is a pioneer of the Franciacorta appellation. Inspired by Champagne, Maurizio began developing traditional methods in the 1970s to produce outstanding sparkling wines. The Annamaria Clementi cuvée, dedicated to his mother, embodies family excellence and has established Ca' del Bosco as a global benchmark for Italian sparkling wines.

The vineyard

"Annamaria Clementi" comes from 31 certified organic vineyards located in the communes of Erbusco, Adro, Corte Franca, Iseo, and Passirano. These plots, with an average age of around 30 years, are managed with respect for the environment, allowing Franciacorta wines to fully express their unique character and typicity.

The vintage
The year 2016 began with a sunny winter followed by a cold spell in January and February. An early and warm spring preceded a rainy May, while June and July saw warm and dry conditions. Storms occurred in August before the harvest took place under favorable conditions starting August 18, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality.

Vinification and aging
The grapes are harvested by hand and transported in small crates before being sorted and subjected to individual washing and drying. Only the first-press juices are used for alcoholic fermentation, which takes place in small oak barrels where the wood has been dried for at least three years. After six months of aging on the lees in barrel with malolactic fermentation, only the best barrels are selected from among 31 base wines. Maturation on the lees continues for over eight years before disgorgement without oxygen, using a patented system. No liqueur is added, giving this cuvée its zero dosage character.

Blend
The blend of this Annamaria Clementi 2016 from Ca' del Bosco is composed of chardonnay (83%), complemented by pinot noir (15%) and a touch of pinot blanc (2%).