Cavalleri, Lombardy
An outstanding Blanc de Blancs, first sampled at the 'Summa' Tasting in Alto-Adige: It may have been the picturesque surroundings, or the fact that my use of the spitoon had become somewhat erratic, but I recall this being the most exciting Champagne-method Chardonnay I have experienced since Taittinger's '96 Comte de Champagne.
The Cavalleri estate
One wonders if the British wine-buying public's increasing interest in grower's Champagne (i.e. - confidence to experiment away from Les Grands Maisons) will spill over in to an appreciation of Italy's equivalently-impressive Franciacorta wines? Sampling Cavalleri's excellent metodo classico wines should undoubtably chivvy along any sceptics.