JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  7/6/2021 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé Brut, Italy) Subscribe to see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

• By Richard Hemming, MW
  9/3/2018 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi, Rosé Brut anciacorta Rosé) Subscribe to see review text.

JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  8/13/2018 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé Brut, Sparkling, Italy) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Ian D'Agata
  Exploring Italy’s 2017 Rosatos (Jun 2018), 6/18/2018 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Rosé (franciacorta) Rosé) Subscribe to see review text.

JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  7/25/2017 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé Brut, Sparkling, Italy) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Ian D'Agata
  2016: A Very Good Year for Italy’s Many Rosatos (May 2017), 5/17/2017 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Brut Rosé (franciacorta) Sparkling Rosé) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Ian D'Agata
  Italy's 2015 Rosatos: Full-Bodied and Luscious (Apr 2016), 4/1/2016 (link)

  (NV Contadi Costaldi Brut Rosé) Subscribe to see review text.

WineAlign

• By Michael Godel
  7/3/2015 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By David Lawrason
  7/2/2015 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Steve Thurlow
  7/2/2015 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By John Szabo, MS
  7/2/2015 (link)

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé red) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Ian D'Agata
  Looking at Italy Through Rosé Tinted Glasses: Cerasuolo, Rosato, Ramato and Chiaretto (Jun 2015), 5/1/2015 (link)

  (NV Contadi Costaldi Franciacorta Brut Rosé) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Italian Bubbles, 11/9/2018

  (NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Brut Rose) Hello friends. The story goes: We taste A LOT of sparkling wine this time of year. The autumn-into-winter months are when just about every producer, importer, and wholesaler are trying to convince Seattle restaurants to program their particular bubbly for the holiday season. Year after year, some of the best QPR sparklers we taste come from Italy. The other story goes: Full Pull is a house built on bubbles. Sparkling wine is emotional currency around these parts. When Full Pull started back in 2009, Paul and his wife, Kelli, developed a simple agreement. Kelli’s responsibility: supply several years of steady income and health insurance while Full Pull figured out what it could be. Paul’s responsibility: keep at least one case of sparkling wine on hand at all times. And it’s not just in Paul’s house—Mountain Dome Brut was the first bottle ever offered to our list, and since then, sparkling wine has been a mainstay in our warehouse. Given these two tales, offering sparkling wine from Italy this time of year seems like a natural fit. So today, we present our tertiary offer of Italian bubbles. The last two versions, offered the last two autumns, were so well received we decided to do it again—this year with a Lambrusco, a Prosecco, and a Franciacorta. I think we can officially call this an annual tradition here at Full Pull, an homage to our beginnings, and our staff, and list full of bubbleheads.Franciacorta is the finest sparkling wine region in Italy. Established as a DOC in 1967 and then as a sparkling-only DOCG in 1995, it puts Champagne-level restrictions on the wines, and produces bottles that can act as Champagne ringers in blind tastings for a fraction of the price. Year after year, these bottles get gobbled up in Europe, with very few escaping the continent in any meaningful number. Which makes it such a delight when there are enough bottles available for an actual offer to our list members. Non-vintage Franciacorta must spend at least 18 months on lees—compared to 15 months in Champagne—but Contadi Castaldi ages its Franciacorta for 24-30 months. This rosé is a blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Nero. It clocks in at 13% listed alc and offers a subtle, yet head-turning nose full of red fruit, flowers, and saline. Just divine; effortlessly beautiful like most things Italian. There’s so much to love about the palate, too. The fine mousse, the depth and intensity, illustrious acidity, the long spiced finish. Franciacorta offers so much bang for your buck it’s outrageous; this is a must-try category for lovers of sparkling wine.