PL Award 1:Silver - SWA 2017 PL Award 2:Silver - IWC 2016
PL Award 3:Silver - DWWA 2013
Country: Italy Region: Lombardia Vintage: NV
Varietal: Sparkling (Champagne style) Category: Sparkling White
Colour: White
Producer: Bellavista
"This estate makes Italy's finest sparkling wines from its 200 hectares of vineyard situated in the western part of the Franciacorta zone in a natural amphitheatre. The glacial soil is full of stones and provides the ideal environment for the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes used in the production of their Franciacorta.
The property was founded when Vittorio Moretti bought the hill called 'Bellavista', because of its stunning view, in the early 1970s. His grandfather had farmed in Franciacorta, where Moretti was born and, after making his money in construction he returned to buy this superb site. His first vintage in 1979 was made with the idea of having his own wine to drink with friends. In 1981, however, he met a young winemaker called Mattia Vezzola and from this meeting was born the partnership that has transformed Bellavista into Italy's leading producer of quality sparkling wine.Today Francesca, Vittorio's daughter, is leading the company following Vittorio's steps. They have an approach to production that is astonishing in the way it cuts no corners. Having gone to all this effort, Moretti wanted to ensure the bottle looked good, so he had his own design produced by the Murano glass factory in Venice. It is a work of art.The wines stand out for their finesse and elegance, making a second glass irresistible! Founder Vittorio Moretti often refers to the wines' digestibility, hence making them ideal food wines, or perfect simply as an aperitif or digestif. The Alma is now called Alma Grand Cuvée as the wines spends at least 40 months on the lees before desgorgement. The Satèn is a sumptuous 100% Chardonnay while the 'Vittorio Moretti', only produced in exceptional vintages, is something else.In addition to the sparkling range, Be
PL Award 1:Gold - IWC 2017 PL Award 2:Silver - DWWA 2017
PL Award 3:Gold - IWC 2016 PL Award 4:Silver - DWWA 2015 PL Award 5:Silver - IWC 2015 PL Award 6:Silver - SWA 2015
Country: France Region: Champagne Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Sparkling (Champagne style) Category: Champagne
Colour: White
Producer: Charles Heidsieck
"Charles Heidsieck is one of the great names of Champagne, and produces some of the finest of all Champagnes. Founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original 'Champagne Charlie', the foundation of its modern fame rests on the unrivalled quality of its wines, which receive countless awards and accolades year after year. This success is attributable to the strength and depth of their winemaking team over the past three decades: Daniel Thibault, Regis Camus and Thierry Roset have between them been awarded 'Sparkling Winemaker of the Year' at the International Wine Challenge fifteen times. No other house has won more than twice. This winning philosophy has been inherited by the new chef de cave, Cyril Brun, who took over in 2015 following Thierry Roset's untimely death in October 2014. The foundation stones of this philosophy are quite simple, and are evident in the Brut Reserve: fermentation and ageing in stainless steel – no oak is used in any of the wines; the wines come from 60 'crus' in Champagne in order to focus the flavours in the final blend; it is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier; there is 40% reserve wine in the blend; the average age of the reserve wine is 10 years; and the wine is aged on its lees for at least five years prior to release. These components combine to give a wine that is more 'premium cuvee' than brut reserve, and accounts for its success at this year's competitions, where it once again won numerous awards.The Rosé Réserve is pale in colour and delicately scented on the nose. The fruit comes primarily from top villages like Riceys, Ambonnay and Aÿ. The 2005 Brut Millésimé is a clas