Franciacorta Extra Brut 'Nelson Cenci' Vigneti Cenci

Franciacorta Extra Brut 'Nelson Cenci' is one of the most important labels produced by the family-run Vigneti Cenci, which stands out for its elegant minerality. This cuvée is a tribute to Nelson Cenci, a doctor, writer and Alpinist who founded the Vigneti Cenci winery in 1960 after taking over La Boscaiola, a beautiful 17th-century farmstead located in Cologne, in the south-western part of the Franciacorta region. Today, the winery is run by his daughter Giuliana Cenci, who began working alongside her father in the 1980s, and by Maurizio Bassi, Giuliana's son and Nelson's grandson.

Vigneti Cenci Franciacorta 'Nelson Cenci' Extra Brut comes from a blend of Chardonnay (80%) and Pinot Bianco (20%) grapes grown in Cologne, precisely on the slope of Monte Orfano. Here the vines benefit from excellent south-westerly exposure and the rocky, gravelly and colluvial matrix of the soil. After harvesting, the grapes are transferred to the cellar and gently pressed, with only the flower must selected for temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation. Subsequent fermentation takes place in the bottle according to the Metodo Classico, using only sugars from the grapes to trigger re-fermentation, without the addition of exogenous sugars. Ageing on the lees lasts for at least 48 months, at the end of which disgorgement and topping up with the same cuvée is carried out.

The colour of Vigneti Cenci's Franciacorta 'Nelson Cenci' Extra Brut is straw yellow with brilliant greenish highlights and copious bubbles. On the nose there are scents of pear, lemon peel and wisteria, enhanced by mineral nuances of chalk and a hint of hazelnut. The taste is energetic and vibrant, with good structure and brilliant freshness, characterised by a lingering finish.