Franciacorta Ca del Bosco Prestige Cuvee Brut is a spectacular sparkling wine, regarded by many wine enthusiasts as “Italian Champagne”. Franciacorta as a region (east of Milan) has a reputation for producing excellent sparkling wines, and Ca del Bosco is one of Italy’s most prestigious producers so you have the perfect recipe for success here.

What’s it like?

Pretty spectacular. It’s a blend of 75% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) and 10% Pinot Bianco. The best grapes are sourced from an array of vineyards but the secret to this wine is the blending in of older cuvees (as in Champagne) . This creates a wine rich in flavour but also allows a consistent style to be created each year as the winemaker can alter the quantities added depending on the characteristics of that year’s wine.

It has delicious flavours of fruit and the familiar Champagne “biscuit” taste. A very fine mousse, superb balance and supreme length. I’d have this over any Champagne.

How much? Where from?

Franciacorta Ca del Bosco Prestige Cuvee Brut is hard to find but is available from www.goodwineonline.co.uk for £23.99. The only other retailer advertising it was good old Everywine.co.uk who don’t hold any stock but will take your order then try to buy it in and charge you a hefty surplus and make you wait 10 days for delivery – a very interesting business model in these austere times!