Cavalleri, Lombardy
Only produced in truly outstanding vintages, Esclusiva is Cavalleri's ultimate expression of Franciacorta's terroir. At once drier and more austere than 2001 Brut above, this is a wine with greater structure, purity and mineral drive and shows impressive potential for ageing further.
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.