Citrus, stone fruit, bread and pastry. Some ginger, nuts a touch of honey. Good acidity and very smooth bubbles, with medium plus body and a bit more stones in the mouth. Medium finish.
Well made and reliable, especially for its low price, gaining complexity in the glass. I am quite "sensible" to bubble texture and here it is very nice.
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Texas Wine School Kings of Italy Class. This delightful blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc is clear, bright pale straw in color. The mousse is very vigorous and lasting. The nose is clean, with fuji apple, fresh herbs, and a yeasty, toasty notes. The palate is dry, with ripe fresh fruit aromas and a pleasant savory, nutty, minerality on the finish. The intensity of the flavors on the palate is remarkable, leading to a smooth, medium (+) to long finish. The acidity is medium to medium (+), the alcohol is medium at 12.5%. This is a very well made, and well balanced. Drink now, not intended for further aging
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disgorged in 2015. Surprising Franciacorta, rich and aromatic, very pleasant at the nose and at the palate, armonic and complex. Sure benefitted from 2 additional years in the bottle after disgorgement. Top entry level Franciacorta. Good stuff. With A&D e S&M with mozzarella and quiche
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Blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanco and a hint of Pinot Nero. Nice Italian bubble to start off lunch at Ciak in Hong Kong. Golden, vibrant yellow to the eye with barely visible bubbles. Aromas peaches and apples with a hint of toasty yeast. Arguably, if not aware, a "Champagne". Reasonably dry, a bit more lively than most and great QPR.
Although not a “special” or “buy every year” example of The Noble Grape, we will happily sip this bottle with the guest who likely brought it to share at dinner or as a satisfying alternative to the higher-level wines that for many reasons should not be sipped everyday. Good color, pleasant nose, varying degrees of appropriate niceties (depends on the varietal or blend) on the palate and the sort of finish that politely responds, “Yes, I would be happy to sip another glass, thanks.” We often find ourselves opting for such wines in mind-blowing meets exceptional, exceptional or excellent restaurants (See GastroNaughties’ Restaurant Rating Criteria) where the list is wonderful despite the 3x+ markup....like at Ciak, which is not quite that level of a restaurant - great pizza and pasta - but does demand Hong Kong prices.
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Tre Bonne Annee Antinori's Fascination with Cabernet (Bricco): Never had Franciacorta previously. I really was surprised at how good this was. Good clean, rich feel in the mouth. Some tropical fruit is present but pretty subtle with crisp acidity and a layer of minerals.
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Yeast, brioche, toast, apricot, caramel on the nose. Creamy mouth feel some tropical notes on the palate. Nice minerality with mild acidity. All around drinks like and aged Champagne. Quite impressive at 30 USD.
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2nd Gastronomy Fair 2014; 3/30/2014-3/31/2014 (Intercontinental Hotel): Clear med lemon color. The nose is clean, med/med+ intensity, yeasty aromas, tropical fruits, biscuit and dough, fresh and still youthful. The wine is dry, med+ body and intensity, med+ to high acidity, med alcohol, almond and walnut, ripe pineapple, some creaminess texture-wise, balanced overall, med+ finish, a fine wine with real complexity. Very good quality, premium price, drinking now but could hold
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interesting Franciacorta well balanced and pleasant although lacking some mineral backbone. But this is the entry-level for the Antinori-Montenisa and at a 15euro price point this is a best buy.
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Bouquet of flowers and honey. The same came through on the flavors with melon as well. Very fine, persistent bubbles. More body than Bellavista which I also like. Good value for 2800 yen which is about half the price of champagne in Japan.
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Weekly tasting group #037; Sparkling wines. (@ SB): A bubble with clearly its own character. In the bouquet yeasty, bread dough and almonds. On the palate a firm mousse with flowers, pear and peach with tart grapefruit. Easy going and very pleasant bubble.
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I enjoed the last btl more. Today, this came off tasting sl sweet although I doubt there is much residual sugar. Overall, reminded me of a California sparklers which is not really a compliment. The wine was not flawed in anyway just not to my liking.
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First sparkling wine from this region. Enjoyed it very much. Nice toast and yeast aroma aroma's with a touch of citrus and mineral. Fresh and crisp on the palate, great balance of fruit and acidity, dry finish.
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Brilliant golden color. Very tight on aromas, can't recognize much. Some light tropical fruit on the palate. Decent acidity. An average sprkler in book.
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This is still very pretty in the glass but at nearly 3 years old it is losing its appeal on the nose and the palate has developed a woody note of past-fresh pomelo. Time to drink up.
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First ever experience with Franciacorta. Pale gold in colour, this one offers nice biscuit and golden apples on the nose and is delicate with elegant mousse and a fruity, balanced finish.
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In the glass this wine had exceptional clarity and glassy coloration. There is a nice, yeasty bread dough component on the nose, with slightly smoky flint and limestone notes, a bit of citrus oil, some white cranberry, and just a hint of quince and water lily. The palate opens with soft, sweet, white peach tones, which develop into golden apple and white flower petal. There is also a touch of granny smith apple, lime, and crushed sea stone, before leading into a delicate floral finish. This wine has very nice crisp acidity, excellent balance of fruit and minerality, and a smooth medium body with small, lively bubbles. At $37, this is a well made, serious sparkling wine, and I believe that the quality meets the price exactly. However, there may be other options at a slightly lower price level offering similar quality, so although this may not be a bargain, I still think it is a wine worth trying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #9: Antinori Tasting Part 1 (http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/05/03/post-9-antinori-tasting-part-1/ )
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Dinner with Todd & Mina (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Nice pale gold colour. Tiny, prolific and persistent bubbles with a rich mousse. Nose of Rich Tea biscuits along with a touch of fresh mown grass. Slightly soapy but in a very pleasant way on the palate, very, very soft mouthfeel and a predominance of ripe Pomelo. Very soft, with restrained but perceptible acidity. Good finish with white peaches emerging. Very soft.............like Badoit compared to Perrier.
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Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML89-90? No tasting note. Had a glass of this from a freshly opened bottle at Badia a Passignano prior to the cellar tour. Light yellow color in the glass with steady, medium beading. Nice nose and palate that I recall as being light and refreshing. Seemed to be quite the value play at the time. Drink now.
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Dinner at Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong: This is fast becoming a real favourite of ours and likewise with most people we have shared it with. It has a lovely softness but enough crispness to balance it. A great mousse and nose and very more-ish on the palate.
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Dinner at Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong: Light honeyed colour. Gorgeous delicate mousse with abundant and very fine bubbles. Attractive soft nose. Very soft and rounded on the palate with distinctive Chardonnay characteristics. Velvety and very easy to drink with more balanced moderate acidity than most standard NV champagnes. This is the first wine that Alessia Antinori has made for her family and it is extremely well made indeed (we'd first drank it with her over dinner in late 2007). It impressed everyone.
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Champagnes x Espumantes (Porto Rubaiyat): Provado às cegas. Vinho n. 03. Perlage mais grosseira, quase sem nariz, um pouco bruto, ligeiro amargor. Nota tostada final. Nacional ou italiano? O/E.
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9/1/2018 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 91 Points
No temporal notes, but I thought this was lovely...
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3/17/2018 - The years of the grape Likes this wine: 91 Points
Citrus, stone fruit, bread and pastry. Some ginger, nuts a touch of honey.
Good acidity and very smooth bubbles, with medium plus body and a bit more stones in the mouth. Medium finish.
Well made and reliable, especially for its low price, gaining complexity in the glass. I am quite "sensible" to bubble texture and here it is very nice.
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12/16/2017 - olracx62 wrote: 90 Points
Nice blend of chardonnay and pinot bkanc which pleases nose and palate with its aromatic notes. Very enjoyable.
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11/14/2017 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 90 Points
Texas Wine School Kings of Italy Class. This delightful blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc is clear, bright pale straw in color. The mousse is very vigorous and lasting. The nose is clean, with fuji apple, fresh herbs, and a yeasty, toasty notes. The palate is dry, with ripe fresh fruit aromas and a pleasant savory, nutty, minerality on the finish. The intensity of the flavors on the palate is remarkable, leading to a smooth, medium (+) to long finish. The acidity is medium to medium (+), the alcohol is medium at 12.5%. This is a very well made, and well balanced. Drink now, not intended for further aging
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10/20/2017 - olracx62 Likes this wine: 90 Points
disgorged in 2015. Surprising Franciacorta, rich and aromatic, very pleasant at the nose and at the palate, armonic and complex. Sure benefitted from 2 additional years in the bottle after disgorgement. Top entry level Franciacorta. Good stuff. With A&D e S&M with mozzarella and quiche
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10/19/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Tignanello Tasting dinner with Renzo Cotarella (La Pizza Fresca Ristorante, NYC): Clean & crisp wine served as an aperitif. Not too much interest or depth but refreshing and enjoyable.
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5/9/2016 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 86 Points
Blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanco and a hint of Pinot Nero. Nice Italian bubble to start off lunch at Ciak in Hong Kong. Golden, vibrant yellow to the eye with barely visible bubbles. Aromas peaches and apples with a hint of toasty yeast. Arguably, if not aware, a "Champagne". Reasonably dry, a bit more lively than most and great QPR.
Although not a “special” or “buy every year” example of The Noble Grape, we will happily sip this bottle with the guest who likely brought it to share at dinner or as a satisfying alternative to the higher-level wines that for many reasons should not be sipped everyday. Good color, pleasant nose, varying degrees of appropriate niceties (depends on the varietal or blend) on the palate and the sort of finish that politely responds, “Yes, I would be happy to sip another glass, thanks.” We often find ourselves opting for such wines in mind-blowing meets exceptional, exceptional or excellent restaurants (See GastroNaughties’ Restaurant Rating Criteria) where the list is wonderful despite the 3x+ markup....like at Ciak, which is not quite that level of a restaurant - great pizza and pasta - but does demand Hong Kong prices.
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2/25/2016 - JS1056 wrote: 89 Points
Tre Bonne Annee Antinori's Fascination with Cabernet (Bricco): Never had Franciacorta previously. I really was surprised at how good this was.
Good clean, rich feel in the mouth. Some tropical fruit is present but pretty subtle with crisp acidity and a layer of minerals.
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12/14/2015 - grantsky wrote: 89 Points
Baked Apple and pear, slight brioche, put together well, balanced, mineral.
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10/15/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 90 Points
Antinori Winemaker Dinner (Scarpetta, Beverly Hills): Crisp and refreshing, with nice delineation. Not for aging.
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3/25/2015 - BillyT wrote:
Yeast, brioche, toast, apricot, caramel on the nose. Creamy mouth feel some tropical notes on the palate. Nice minerality with mild acidity. All around drinks like and aged Champagne. Quite impressive at 30 USD.
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1/5/2015 - Armando B wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Apple, pear and honey notes. More heft than I anticipated. Would actually pair well with dessert.
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6/28/2014 - professordoktor Likes this wine:
Pale, with a full, round mousse. Green apple, fresh green grass, tart lemon, and yeasty toast. Friendly, but with some depth.
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6/20/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
Poured at the Montage with the ham hock course. Notes of dried strawberries and slate. Light bead. Delicate style. 89 points.
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5/10/2014 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful sparkling wine. Fresh, crispy and fairly complex. On par with a very good Champagne but signifficantly cheaper. Highly recommended.
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4/9/2014 - OLMouse wrote:
Золотистое. Нос - масло, хлеб, абрикосовое варенье, яблоко, мёд. Кислотность умеренная, сладкое. Послевкусие дольше среднего.
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3/31/2014 - kostaslonis Likes this wine: 89 Points
2nd Gastronomy Fair 2014; 3/30/2014-3/31/2014 (Intercontinental Hotel): Clear med lemon color.
The nose is clean, med/med+ intensity, yeasty aromas, tropical fruits, biscuit and dough, fresh and still youthful.
The wine is dry, med+ body and intensity, med+ to high acidity, med alcohol, almond and walnut, ripe pineapple, some creaminess texture-wise, balanced overall, med+ finish, a fine wine with real complexity.
Very good quality, premium price, drinking now but could hold
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11/17/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Osteria I Nonni Fall Italian Tasting 2013 (I Nonni, St. Paul, MN): tasting pour. light, orchard fruit, fairly crisp, good.
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6/16/2013 - olracx62 wrote: 90 Points
outstanding NV franciacorta with a super train on bubbles and sparkling reactions on the palate. Medium minerality but a nice stuff at the backbone
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5/19/2013 - olracx62 wrote: 89 Points
interesting Franciacorta well balanced and pleasant although lacking some mineral backbone. But this is the entry-level for the Antinori-Montenisa and at a 15euro price point this is a best buy.
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2/2/2013 - knothoef wrote: 85 Points
Wonderfull taste (some raisin and prunes), but unfortunately overwhelming bubbles, mousse is far from fine
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1/30/2013 - wombat wrote: 89 Points
Bouquet of flowers and honey. The same came through on the flavors with melon as well. Very fine, persistent bubbles. More body than Bellavista which I also like. Good value for 2800 yen which is about half the price of champagne in Japan.
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8/20/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 87 Points
Bright acidity, tropical fruit, and a little yeast. Decent sparkler.
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8/6/2012 - Zweder wrote: 86 Points
Weekly tasting group #037; Sparkling wines. (@ SB): A bubble with clearly its own character. In the bouquet yeasty, bread dough and almonds. On the palate a firm mousse with flowers, pear and peach with tart grapefruit. Easy going and very pleasant bubble.
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3/10/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 87 Points
Fruit forward with tropical aromas and flavors. A stoney minerality comes in towards the finish.
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12/31/2011 - xboomer wrote: 92 Points
A very good Champagne.
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8/12/2011 - Neurowine1 wrote: 81 Points
I enjoed the last btl more. Today, this came off tasting sl sweet although I doubt there is much residual sugar. Overall, reminded me of a California sparklers which is not really a compliment. The wine was not flawed in anyway just not to my liking.
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5/4/2011 - J2K wrote: 90 Points
First sparkling wine from this region. Enjoyed it very much. Nice toast and yeast aroma aroma's with a touch of citrus and mineral. Fresh and crisp on the palate, great balance of fruit and acidity, dry finish.
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4/6/2011 - ecola wrote: 86 Points
Brilliant golden color. Very tight on aromas, can't recognize much. Some light tropical fruit on the palate. Decent acidity. An average sprkler in book.
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3/27/2011 - Neurowine1 wrote: 84 Points
Solidly made franciacorta. Clean, fresh with nice citrus and peach notes. Nothing special, but very pleasant.
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5/24/2010 - Goldstone wrote: 84 Points
This is still very pretty in the glass but at nearly 3 years old it is losing its appeal on the nose and the palate has developed a woody note of past-fresh pomelo. Time to drink up.
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5/9/2010 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 85 Points
First ever experience with Franciacorta. Pale gold in colour, this one offers nice biscuit and golden apples on the nose and is delicate with elegant mousse and a fruity, balanced finish.
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5/3/2010 - Tyler_at_WWD wrote: 88 Points
In the glass this wine had exceptional clarity and glassy coloration. There is a nice, yeasty bread dough component on the nose, with slightly smoky flint and limestone notes, a bit of citrus oil, some white cranberry, and just a hint of quince and water lily. The palate opens with soft, sweet, white peach tones, which develop into golden apple and white flower petal. There is also a touch of granny smith apple, lime, and crushed sea stone, before leading into a delicate floral finish. This wine has very nice crisp acidity, excellent balance of fruit and minerality, and a smooth medium body with small, lively bubbles. At $37, this is a well made, serious sparkling wine, and I believe that the quality meets the price exactly. However, there may be other options at a slightly lower price level offering similar quality, so although this may not be a bargain, I still think it is a wine worth trying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #9: Antinori Tasting Part 1 (http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/05/03/post-9-antinori-tasting-part-1/ )
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9/16/2009 - Goldstone wrote: 89 Points
Dinner with Todd & Mina (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Nice pale gold colour. Tiny, prolific and persistent bubbles with a rich mousse. Nose of Rich Tea biscuits along with a touch of fresh mown grass. Slightly soapy but in a very pleasant way on the palate, very, very soft mouthfeel and a predominance of ripe Pomelo. Very soft, with restrained but perceptible acidity. Good finish with white peaches emerging. Very soft.............like Badoit compared to Perrier.
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10/21/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML89-90? No tasting note. Had a glass of this from a freshly opened bottle at Badia a Passignano prior to the cellar tour. Light yellow color in the glass with steady, medium beading. Nice nose and palate that I recall as being light and refreshing. Seemed to be quite the value play at the time. Drink now.
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3/8/2008 - Goldstone wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong: This is fast becoming a real favourite of ours and likewise with most people we have shared it with. It has a lovely softness but enough crispness to balance it. A great mousse and nose and very more-ish on the palate.
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2/23/2008 - Goldstone wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong: Light honeyed colour. Gorgeous delicate mousse with abundant and very fine bubbles. Attractive soft nose. Very soft and rounded on the palate with distinctive Chardonnay characteristics. Velvety and very easy to drink with more balanced moderate acidity than most standard NV champagnes. This is the first wine that Alessia Antinori has made for her family and it is extremely well made indeed (we'd first drank it with her over dinner in late 2007). It impressed everyone.
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2/14/2008 - Vinho wrote: 85 Points
Champagnes x Espumantes (Porto Rubaiyat): Provado às cegas. Vinho n. 03. Perlage mais grosseira, quase sem nariz, um pouco bruto, ligeiro amargor. Nota tostada final. Nacional ou italiano? O/E.
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12/30/2007 - AlpharettaWine wrote: 86 Points
Better options out there for the price.
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