Berlucchi Franciacorta Palazzo Lana Extreme Extra Brut Riserva 2010
Aged for 10 years, this is Franciacorte at its best. The layered bouquet of stone fruit, candied orange peel and toasty notes preludes a remarkably crisp palate, with firm structure and vibrant minerality that contribute to its distinctive length.
The Pinot Noir vines are grown in two estate vineyards in Borgonato, both planted to a high density: the hillside Quindicipiò, and Brolo, facing Palazzo Lana Berlucchi. The topography follows an amphitheatre shape formed by ancient glacial activity. The Morainic soils were formed during the last Ice Age; gravely, stony soils are well drained and rich in minerals. The vineyards are greatly influenced by the cold winds coming from the Alps, however the continental climate is mitigated by the effects of Lake d’Iseo. The Berlucchi vines are Guyot and spurred cordon trained. For over 20 years Berlucchi has been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability projects such as vigour mapping – the use of satellite images and multispectral cameras that capture plants’ photosynthetic activity and consequently their state of health in real time, which allows for bespoke cultivation; soil zoning and increasing biodiversity in viticulture. In 2016, the three-year conversion to organic viticulture, was completed, but Berlucchi had already started using low-impact products in 2000. Cover crops, integrated pest management and natural fertilisers are employed and the grapes are hand-harvested
The grapes were gently pressed and the musts underwent cold static clarification. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts, controlled at 16°C. Once the first fermentation was complete, the wine was racked to remove the coarse lees. The base wines was refined on the fine lees for around six months with variable frequency bâtonnage, before the final blend. The best plots were aged in French oak barrels for six months. The secondary fermentation to obtain the sparkling wine, took place in bottle; it was refined on the lees for at least 10 years, followed by six months after disgorgement.
| RRP | £87.25 |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Alcoholic strength | 12.5% |
| Awards | Silver, Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, 2022 |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Lombardy |
| Subregion | Franciacorta |
| Grapes | Pinot Noir 100% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Mushroom cork |
The Berlucchi family winery was founded in 1955 by Guido Berlucchi, Franco Ziliani and Giorgio Lanciani. Together, they transformed Franciacorta into one of Italy’s most prestigious regions for the production of sparkling wine. Franciacorta’s renaissance began with Guido Berlucchi’s creation of the very first Classic Method wine in 1961. With a pioneering spirit, Berlucchi introduced and promoted expertise that had not existed in Franciacorta until that point, inspiring many other passionate, forward-thinking producers to follow suit. Together, they transformed this region into the crown jewel of Italian winemaking. From their estate in Borgonato, Berlucchi follows a philosophy of high-quality viticulture that is environmentally sustainable. In 1962 they introduced ‘Max Rosé’, Italy’s very first Classic Method Rosé. After nearly 60 successful years at the helm of the company, Franco Ziliani passed his expertise onto the next generation, his children Cristina, Arturo and Paolo. In 2022, Berlucchi was awarded the prestigious ‘Winery of the Year’ by Gambero Rosso.
