Winemaker Notes
Extra Brut '61 is a tribute to the birth of Franciacorta in 1961—the year Berlucchi produced the first of this classic method sparkling wine. This fun and lively sparkler offers citrus fruit and a crisp, clean finish.
Blend: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A restrained wine that’s a classic Franciacorta, with strawberries, stone fruit and fresh grapefruit on the nose. Aspirin flavors, medium bubbles, a medium body, zesty acidity and a silky finish.
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Vinous
The NV Franciacorta Extra Brut '61 is lifted and airy, with a cascade of chamomile and mint complementing white peaches. It's loaded with zesty tension as a saline-infused wave of soft bubbles ushers in gobs of sour citrus and melon tones. Fresh to the very end, this leaves the mouth watering with a saline sensation that adds a truly gastronomic quality.
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Decanter
Lovely white blossom, lemon zest and blanched almond aromatics. Gentle mousse with a pleasant touch of bitter almond on the long, lemony finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This fresh, creamy Chardonnay-based sparkler is making waves thanks to its crisp acidity and full-bodied mouthfeel. The balance is spot-on, with delicate aromas of apricot, baked bread and sweet citrus that are backed by smooth and persistent perlage.
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Wine Spectator
The creamy mousse cushions firm acidity in this elegant sparkler, carrying notes of poached quince, guava, ground ginger and elderflower, plus a touch of briny oyster shell.
Berlucchi’s excellence is born of curiosity and deep friendship. In 1955, Guido Berlucchi, a successful landowner in the Franciacorta region, approached the young enologist and consultant, Franco Ziliani, to improve his still wines. Then, Ziliani came to Berlucchi with the question: what if we were to make a sparkling wine as the French do? Berlucchi, who was eager to first improve the viability of his Pinot del Castello, offered his property and support to this pioneering experiment. After a number of unsatisfactory vintages, the two men’s partnership produced the first shining vintage of their classic method sparkling wine, the 1961 “Pinot di Franciacorta.” This was a radical departure from the still table wines traditionally produced in the area and one that would prove revelatory for the region. In 1967, Franciacorta became a recognized designation of origin for Italian wine, with Berlucchi leading the way.
The name Berlucchi is now synonymous with Franciacorta and their wines are a staple of Italian celebrations. Franco Ziliani, lovingly referred to as "the father of Franciacorta," remains president of the estate, overseeing the work of his three children, who now lead all communications, production, and sales and marketing. Cristina, Arturo, and Paolo are forging a new vision for Berlucchi into the 21st century. They pioneered the Berlucchi '61 and Palazzo Lana Riserva lines as homage to their father and the founding distinction of Franciacorta and have pushed for higher standards of environmental sustainability in all vineyard and winery practices.
Berlucchi is a unique player in the field of sparkling wine--they capture both the luxury and glamour of this classically romantic beverage while maintaining an intrinsic curiosity and hunger for innovation. Unencumbered by generations of expectation and tradition, Berlucchi succeeded at crafting an elevated sparkling wine, tailored to Italian standards of excellence. They will undoubtedly continue to brighten the pallets and parties of bubbly lovers well beyond the region of Franciacorta.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
Containing an exciting mix of wine producing subregions, Lombardy is Italy’s largest in size and population. Good quality Pinot noir, Bonarda and Barbera have elevated the reputation of the plains of Oltrepò Pavese. To its northeast in the Alps, Valtellina is the source of Italy’s best Nebbiolo wines outside of Piedmont. Often missed in the shadow of Prosecco, Franciacorta produces collectively Italy’s best Champagne style wines, and for the fun and less serious bubbly, find Lambrusco Mantovano around the city of Mantua. Lugana, a dry white with a devoted following, is produced to the southwest of Lake Garda.