Nose: strawberry and green quince. Palate: strawberry, watermelon, lime, salt, guava, and light yeastiness that takes a backseat to all the rest. High acid, medium body, harsh bubbles. I can almost count the number of bubbles with each sip they're so big. My first franciacorta, and I was expecting much more. Really pretty rough around the edges. A good crémant de xyz is generally going to be better quality and value.
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Light on the palate wirh refreshing crisp fruit framed by crème fraiche — it has that sour yet creamy vibe. Strawberries, lemon, citrus that holds onto the palate into the finish. Not wildly complex, but is tasty.
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Nose is subdued with some strawberries. Crisp acidity, light mousse, medium minerality and then brioche, strawberries, and Mayer lemon. Medium long ending, oak. Good!
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On the nose, red apple, some tart red cherries, and some cranberries - red fruit here. This had a kind of a jolly rancher thing going on here. tiny bubbles and lots of fine mousse. On the palate, more of the same. However, the finish is a tad short for my taste. Medium body. Medium plus acidity. This, to me, was a bit of a disappointment. I wasn't expecting too much for the price, but this still let me down.
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To Franciacorta, or not to Franciacorta? (that is the question)
I was first told about Franciacorta by a waiter (ironically named Dimitri) at Osso Steakhouse, a favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco. Franciacorta is not well known (none of my wine-drinking friends, one a native of France, had heard of it), and can be difficult to find.
This dry, sparkling rosé from Lombardy is a blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Nero, 13.0% abv. DOCG requires Franciacorta be aged at least 18 months on lees, but this is aged over 24 months. Served @ 7c/45f with hors d'oeuvres. Pale strawberry pink in the glass, nose is of strawberry & apricot. Crisp and refreshing with finely textured bubbles, intense red fruit bursts on the palate. Wine is well-balanced with just a hint of sweetness. Nice acidity cleanses the mouth and evolves into a pleasant, lingering finish. I'll Franciacorta some more, if you please; IF I can find it.
I bought a couple of other bottles of Franciacorta at the same time; Lantieri Cuvee Brut, & Lantieri Brut Satèn (100% Chardonnay), that I am just waiting for the right moment to try.
Update: 11/11/19 opened the Lantrieri Cuvee Brut for a B'day celebration. I give it 90 points. Two winners out of two isn't bad and I am now a Franciacorta Fan and will seek it out. Definitely looking forward to trying the remaining bottle I have (Satèn). I purchased all three bottles at Astor Spirits in NYC, but they no longer carry Franciacorta. Happily, VLGJEFF (also a Franciacorta aficionado) located a store near me in the San Francisco Bay Area (Solano Cellars, Albany CA) that does carry a good selection of Franciacorta (including this Contadi Castaldi Rosé).
For those intrigued, here is a link to a good article on Franciacorta: https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-regions/italy/italys-top-25-under-20
Meet Satèn, Italy's Silk Wine The luxurious bubbly you never knew existed, and how to try it now.
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Light pink/copper hue, strong and steady mousse. Fresh strawberry and kiwi nose. Quite dry at the pop then it settles down to a gentle grip of dried strawberry, peach, and watermelon. Very food friendly, tonight with a simple marinara and later with chocolate. No problem with either. 4+11+16+8= 89
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very interesting franciacorta rosè at an unparalleled price tag. Balanced acidity, strawberries and raspberries. Solid backbone, Very pleasant . Top QPR
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interesting Franciacorta rosè with nice notes of strawberries and respberries with the backbone of pinot noir. Good QPR and best paired with scampi nature garnished with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon and parsley
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new label, part of the wine sees barrel, chardonnay 65%/pinot nero 35%, 24 to 30 months on lees according to the tech, orange-tinted pink color,succulent, viscosity, sherbet nose,good cut, drinking quite cold, a mild bead but punch, I decanted for about 15 min before pouring
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Sembra quasi barricato. Buon naso, buona bolla, cremoso come un saten e vanigliato. Poteva essere più acido e complesso, ma è un bel vino sotto molti aspetti, prezzo compreso.
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This is consistently good from year to year. Pale salmon and very subtle in color, with a nice perlage. The nose is clean, with aromas of wild strawberries, fresh rose petals, apple and some spice. The palate is dry, crisp, with medium (+) acidity and a nice medium-long finish.
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Nice strawberry and citrus fruit flavors. Not too dry on the finish. Probably a little "sweeter" than many brut Roses (not like a demi-sec though), which I didn't mind necessarily. Went down fine with no real memorable moments, but no issues or distracting off flavors either. Served its purpose with seared octopus. I preferred this over a Ferrari brut we had alongside it.
A little too fruity for my taste. I found the strawberry flavor overwhelming - almost like it was added chemically. I know some people like to drop a strawberry in their sparkling wine and I would think this might be a good choice if you like a lot of strawberry flavor. I should state I don't typically drink sparking wines as I prefer champagne and Ruinart Rose is my weekly go to champagne.
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Pale salmon hold colored Bright strawberry Apple flavors Nice medium weight body and refreshing acidity. A nice value alternative by the glass at Sandbar in San Antonio
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This is a very fine blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. It is a pale salmon and very subtle in color, with a nice perlage. The nose is clean, with aromas of wild strawberries, fresh rose petals, apple and some spice. The palate is dry, crisp, with medium (+) acidity and a nice medium-long finish. It is a good, solid value, but is not nearly as impressive as the Saten.
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Really enjoyed this with pre-Thanksgiving appetizers. Crisp, balanced juicy with just a hint of toast. As far as the color, it's more of a Blanc de Noirs than a Rose'. A really good value.
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Bought at Bliss in San Antonio just to start with some sparkling wine. Turns out this is a very nice blend rose with even smooth creamy mouth feel expressing almost a blanc d blanc chardonnay style and taste with little of the 'rose' shinning through. However, very good starter and do recommend the wine.
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nice pink reflections where bubbles run up fast. Peche, apricot, hints of rasperry. Not the best Contadi Castaldi I have ever drunk, which remains the Dosage Zero. Wrongly paired with an octopus salad. Poor alone
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Floral and white fruit notes on the nose -- a bit unusual. On the palate, pear, yeast, and a bit of strawberry, with a coarse bubble. This is not very refined for a rosé Champagne... except that it is Franciacorta and not Champagne! If I had paid Champagne prices for this, I would be disappointed, but at ~$20/bottle, it leaves cheap Champagne in the dust. If the bubbles were smoother, I would make this my go-to sparkling rosé. As it is, I certainly wouldn't turn it down.
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This was purchased as recommendation to pair with a pesto chicken dish my wife prepared for her TGK cooking class. I'm typically not a rose' kind of guy but was this was a refreshing sparkling rose' that all seemed to enjoy (all favorable comments).
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Excellent traditional method sparkler for the price, ringer for champagne no doubt. Nose of caramel, butterscotch, with toast and a mature side to it. Perhaps some barrel aging is present? I'm sensitive to sweetness in champagne and found this a bit on the sweet side. Would compete well with a basic NV champagne.
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Much better than the Brut with red fruit strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Smallish bubbles with an aromatic, spicy mousse. A nice sparkler for under $20 with enough body to pair with foods. I would buy this again.
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Beautiful copper color with steady bead of pin-prick bubbles, and brioche, fruity, fresh red fruit aromas. On the palate, it displays a creamy mousse, and is approaching medium-bodied with fresh strawberry, raspberry flavors, and a hint of spice flavors. Medium finish.
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12/6/2023 - gpunch wrote: 81 Points
Nose: strawberry and green quince.
Palate: strawberry, watermelon, lime, salt, guava, and light yeastiness that takes a backseat to all the rest.
High acid, medium body, harsh bubbles. I can almost count the number of bubbles with each sip they're so big.
My first franciacorta, and I was expecting much more. Really pretty rough around the edges. A good crémant de xyz is generally going to be better quality and value.
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9/11/2023 - OaktownRush Likes this wine:
Light on the palate wirh refreshing crisp fruit framed by crème fraiche — it has that sour yet creamy vibe. Strawberries, lemon, citrus that holds onto the palate into the finish. Not wildly complex, but is tasty.
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6/3/2023 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose is subdued with some strawberries. Crisp acidity, light mousse, medium minerality and then brioche, strawberries, and Mayer lemon. Medium long ending, oak. Good!
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2/26/2023 - BottleScholar Likes this wine: 82 Points
Enjoyable and not overly complex.
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8/30/2021 - aChave wrote: 90 Points
Melon and red fruit on the nose. Bright and light weight, with nice effervescence and a sprightly character.
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2/6/2021 - Sanfoan Likes this wine:
On the nose, red apple, some tart red cherries, and some cranberries - red fruit here. This had a kind of a jolly rancher thing going on here. tiny bubbles and lots of fine mousse. On the palate, more of the same. However, the finish is a tad short for my taste. Medium body. Medium plus acidity. This, to me, was a bit of a disappointment. I wasn't expecting too much for the price, but this still let me down.
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7/5/2020 - Euge67 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Sopra la media, ma nulla più
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2/15/2020 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 94 Points
Surprisingly rich! complex, light rose color. Great minerality. Refreshing.
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7/17/2019 - Red Don Likes this wine: 91 Points
To Franciacorta, or not to Franciacorta? (that is the question)
I was first told about Franciacorta by a waiter (ironically named Dimitri) at Osso Steakhouse, a favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco. Franciacorta is not well known (none of my wine-drinking friends, one a native of France, had heard of it), and can be difficult to find.
This dry, sparkling rosé from Lombardy is a blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Nero, 13.0% abv. DOCG requires Franciacorta be aged at least 18 months on lees, but this is aged over 24 months. Served @ 7c/45f with hors d'oeuvres. Pale strawberry pink in the glass, nose is of strawberry & apricot. Crisp and refreshing with finely textured bubbles, intense red fruit bursts on the palate. Wine is well-balanced with just a hint of sweetness. Nice acidity cleanses the mouth and evolves into a pleasant, lingering finish. I'll Franciacorta some more, if you please; IF I can find it.
I bought a couple of other bottles of Franciacorta at the same time; Lantieri Cuvee Brut, & Lantieri Brut Satèn (100% Chardonnay), that I am just waiting for the right moment to try.
Update: 11/11/19 opened the Lantrieri Cuvee Brut for a B'day celebration. I give it 90 points. Two winners out of two isn't bad and I am now a Franciacorta Fan and will seek it out. Definitely looking forward to trying the remaining bottle I have (Satèn). I purchased all three bottles at Astor Spirits in NYC, but they no longer carry Franciacorta. Happily, VLGJEFF (also a Franciacorta aficionado) located a store near me in the San Francisco Bay Area (Solano Cellars, Albany CA) that does carry a good selection of Franciacorta (including this Contadi Castaldi Rosé).
For those intrigued, here is a link to a good article on Franciacorta:
https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-regions/italy/italys-top-25-under-20
Meet Satèn, Italy's Silk Wine
The luxurious bubbly you never knew existed, and how to try it now.
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5/5/2019 - Elycohn Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rose gold, fruity tertiary fun. Freshly washed dank raspberries and blood orange.
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4/4/2019 - fingers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light pink/copper hue, strong and steady mousse. Fresh strawberry and kiwi nose. Quite dry at the pop then it settles down to a gentle grip of dried strawberry, peach, and watermelon. Very food friendly, tonight with a simple marinara and later with chocolate. No problem with either. 4+11+16+8= 89
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12/22/2018 - olracx62 Likes this wine: 89 Points
nice bubbles, tasty with its hints of Pinot Noir, solid backbone, strawberries and raspberries. Basic but very enjoyable. Top QPR
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12/15/2018 - olracx62 Likes this wine: 89 Points
very interesting franciacorta rosè at an unparalleled price tag. Balanced acidity, strawberries and raspberries. Solid backbone, Very pleasant . Top QPR
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11/10/2018 - olracx62 Likes this wine: 90 Points
interesting Franciacorta rosè with nice notes of strawberries and respberries with the backbone of pinot noir. Good QPR and best paired with scampi nature garnished with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon and parsley
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2/26/2018 - TblueTravels Likes this wine:
Reorder
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10/27/2017 - ABOVETHEINFLUENCE wrote:
new label, part of the wine sees barrel, chardonnay 65%/pinot nero 35%, 24 to 30 months on lees according to the tech, orange-tinted pink color,succulent, viscosity, sherbet nose,good cut, drinking quite cold, a mild bead but punch, I decanted for about 15 min before pouring
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10/13/2017 - dmanzoni Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sembra quasi barricato. Buon naso, buona bolla, cremoso come un saten e vanigliato. Poteva essere più acido e complesso, ma è un bel vino sotto molti aspetti, prezzo compreso.
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6/25/2017 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is consistently good from year to year. Pale salmon and very subtle in color, with a nice perlage. The nose is clean, with aromas of wild strawberries, fresh rose petals, apple and some spice. The palate is dry, crisp, with medium (+) acidity and a nice medium-long finish.
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4/8/2017 - csimm wrote: 89 Points
Nice strawberry and citrus fruit flavors. Not too dry on the finish. Probably a little "sweeter" than many brut Roses (not like a demi-sec though), which I didn't mind necessarily. Went down fine with no real memorable moments, but no issues or distracting off flavors either. Served its purpose with seared octopus. I preferred this over a Ferrari brut we had alongside it.
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3/11/2017 - ferrarisforme Does not like this wine: 82 Points
A little too fruity for my taste. I found the strawberry flavor overwhelming - almost like it was added chemically. I know some people like to drop a strawberry in their sparkling wine and I would think this might be a good choice if you like a lot of strawberry flavor. I should state I don't typically drink sparking wines as I prefer champagne and Ruinart Rose is my weekly go to champagne.
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5/4/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Pale salmon hold colored
Bright strawberry Apple flavors
Nice medium weight body and refreshing acidity. A nice value alternative
by the glass at Sandbar in San Antonio
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3/17/2016 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is a very fine blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. It is a pale salmon and very subtle in color, with a nice perlage. The nose is clean, with aromas of wild strawberries, fresh rose petals, apple and some spice. The palate is dry, crisp, with medium (+) acidity and a nice medium-long finish. It is a good, solid value, but is not nearly as impressive as the Saten.
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11/27/2015 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really enjoyed this with pre-Thanksgiving appetizers. Crisp, balanced juicy with just a hint of toast. As far as the color, it's more of a Blanc de Noirs than a Rose'. A really good value.
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8/2/2015 - CADomer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice sparkler with some class. Refined and tasty.
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3/29/2015 - BillyT wrote: 90 Points
Bought at Bliss in San Antonio just to start with some sparkling wine. Turns out this is a very nice blend rose with even smooth creamy mouth feel expressing almost a blanc d blanc chardonnay style and taste with little of the 'rose' shinning through. However, very good starter and do recommend the wine.
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9/28/2014 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A good late summer sipper. Very bready, especially on the heels of a rose Chandon.
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7/20/2014 - brujazz wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable. Better than the brut. Lots of small bubbles in a yeasty taste. Complex flavors; a bit of citrus and a touch of salt.
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4/27/2014 - olracx62 wrote: 87 Points
nice pink reflections where bubbles run up fast. Peche, apricot, hints of rasperry. Not the best Contadi Castaldi I have ever drunk, which remains the Dosage Zero. Wrongly paired with an octopus salad. Poor alone
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4/22/2014 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 90 Points
A wonderful glass, very champenoise but with a nice heft to it, and a touch of caramel to complement the yeasty, uplifting vino.
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12/9/2013 - RichardP wrote: 89 Points
Floral and white fruit notes on the nose -- a bit unusual. On the palate, pear, yeast, and a bit of strawberry, with a coarse bubble. This is not very refined for a rosé Champagne... except that it is Franciacorta and not Champagne! If I had paid Champagne prices for this, I would be disappointed, but at ~$20/bottle, it leaves cheap Champagne in the dust. If the bubbles were smoother, I would make this my go-to sparkling rosé. As it is, I certainly wouldn't turn it down.
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11/20/2013 - Motz wrote:
Thought this was better than the Moët & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rosé that I sampled it alongside. Given the price tags, this is the better value.
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9/6/2013 - sjhoffman Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was purchased as recommendation to pair with a pesto chicken dish my wife prepared for her TGK cooking class. I'm typically not a rose' kind of guy but was this was a refreshing sparkling rose' that all seemed to enjoy (all favorable comments).
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7/7/2013 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
Same bottle as wine canuck.....this is great value for price.....
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6/20/2013 - Wine Canuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent traditional method sparkler for the price, ringer for champagne no doubt. Nose of caramel, butterscotch, with toast and a mature side to it. Perhaps some barrel aging is present? I'm sensitive to sweetness in champagne and found this a bit on the sweet side. Would compete well with a basic NV champagne.
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8/7/2012 - Winetex wrote: 89 Points
Much better than the Brut with red fruit strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Smallish bubbles with an aromatic, spicy mousse. A nice sparkler for under $20 with enough body to pair with foods. I would buy this again.
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3/20/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful copper color with steady bead of pin-prick bubbles, and brioche, fruity, fresh red fruit aromas. On the palate, it displays a creamy mousse, and is approaching medium-bodied with fresh strawberry, raspberry flavors, and a hint of spice flavors. Medium finish.
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12/28/2008 - Thomas D. Likes this wine: 92 Points
F perfektes aprikot
N frucht, mineral, nuancen von toast, gruene note, ausgewogen und komplex
G wunderbare perlage, erstklassige frucht
C gross 18+
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