Ca' del Bosco : Extra Brut 2020

A Franciacorta wine from a rigorous selection of Lombardy vineyards

The estate

When Annamaria Clementi acquired a modest house nestled on the heights of Erbusco in 1964 and planted her first vines there, she unknowingly set the course for her son, Maurizio Zanella. At just fifteen, he discovered the wealth of the Franciacorta terroir and became passionate about the traditional Champagne method. A quest for perfection then began, driven by an ideal that would never leave Ca’ del Bosco. Having become one of the architects of the Italian wine renaissance, Maurizio Zanella today crafts some of the most prestigious red, white and sparkling cuvées in the country, all from organic farming. With boldness, rigor and vision, this avant-garde estate has only begun to make its mark.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Extra Brut come from 43 organically certified vineyards spread across the municipalities of Erbusco, Adro, Cazzago San Martino, Corte Franca and Passirano. This mosaic of terroirs in Franciacorta offers exceptional diversity, with 23 Chardonnay plots averaging 25 years old, 2 Pinot Blanc vineyards averaging 31 years, and 18 Pinot Noir plots aged 23 years. This rigorous selection allows the full richness and complexity of the Franciacorta region to be expressed.

The vintage

The 2020 season began with an early bud break between March 20 and 25, followed by flowering a week ahead of schedule. Late spring was marked by heavy rains, storms and a drop in temperatures. Summer remained moderate until July 20, then turned particularly hot with temperatures reaching 33–34 °C, interspersed with frequent showers. Harvesting took place from August 14 to September 3.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates, sorted and cooled before individual washing and drying. The musts ferment in small oak barrels for 5 months, followed by a gravity racking. This cuvée is assembled 7 months after harvest from 43 base wines, with a high proportion of Pinot Noir to add structure. After the secondary fermentation in May 2021, the wine ages on the lees for 48 months before disgorging in an oxygen-free environment using the estate’s patented system.

Blend

This Extra Brut 2020 from Ca’ del Bosco is the result of a blend of Chardonnay (68%), Pinot Noir (29%) and Pinot Blanc (3%).