Franciacorta DOCG Annamaria Clementi RS 1980 0.75l with Gift Box - Ca' del Bosco

Grape varieties

The vines of the white grape variety planted in Franciacorta at that time were supplied by the nurserymen with the generic name of “Pinot” and this name was also reported on the labels of the bottles as “Franciacorta Pinot”.
Subsequently, at the end of the 1980s, it was discovered that the vines planted with the ampelographic variety “Pinot” were actually composed, by chance, of approximately 35% Pinot Bianco and 65% Chardonnay.

We can therefore define that the blend of the “Cuvée Annamaria Clementi RS 1980” created at the time with 40% Pinot Noir base wines and 60% Pinot white grape base wines was in fact composed of 40% Pinot Noir, 21% Pinot Blanc and 39% Chardonnay.

Vineyards of origin

A selection of grapes from the 7 vineyards in the “Canelle” area, located in the surroundings of the “Ca' del Bosco” winery.

Harvest 1980

Cool early spring, little rain and budding of the vines with a decidedly dry climate.
From May onwards, however, the weather conditions changed completely with rain being the protagonist until the first ten days of July. It rained more than 200 mm between May and June. The vines were strongly affected by this climate with consequent loss of the load of bunches. The cool and the rain during flowering actually caused the loss of part of the "flower buds" and induced a limited fruit set, with millerandage of the bunches.

From the second week of July the real summer showed itself with temperatures around 30° C and until September the rain was not seen again. Final climate that favored and marked in excellent the quality of the grapes of this Millesimo.
The harvest began the first week of September with perfectly healthy and ripe “Pinot” grapes. For this Riserva the grapes were harvested on September 11th and 12th.

Winemaking

André Dubois “Chef de Cave” of Ca' del Bosco, who for a couple of harvests had taken over the cellar operations, at the request of Maurizio Zanella decided to vinify the best grapes of this vintage by applying the classic winemaking protocol to obtain excellence from a Millesimo: manual pressing of the grapes done with the ancient wooden marmonier press and then the use of the pièce (205-liter oak barrels, ed.), the great novelty at the time, for the fermentation of the musts and the “elevage” of the wines until the following spring.

Notes from André Dubois' personal notebook:

“Magnifiques vendanges, rendements réduits. Excellent vintage.... vin a garder longtemps”. (“Magnificent harvest, reduced yields in the vineyard. Excellent vintage...wines to keep for a long time.”)

Notes by Stefano Capelli, the chosen one of André Dubois in 1986 and the one who took over the baton in 1990:

“From André's teachings I learned that complexity, fullness and olfactory harmony are achieved only with time. This was his lesson: «to make a great wine, you must know the value of time and forget about haste. You will have to forget about the wines in the cellar and then take them back, study them, analyse them, taste them and measure them over the years. Only with the passing of time will you be able to evaluate their aptitude for conservation, for improving over time, until they have developed their originality and uniqueness. A patient wait, until the best varietal expressiveness, of the soils and of time is achieved»”.

After tasting this Riserva for years, Maurizio and I believe that the time has come to reveal its originality, a project that began in the harvest 43 years ago, a Franciacorta that today has reached its evolutionary peak and best expresses our past and present savoir-faire, the best expression of a Franciacorta Riserva in the Ca' del Bosco style. A wine that is in fact “original” and is not only the fruit of the vine, but above all the fruit of time.

A sublime Franciacorta that after 42 years expresses itself in all its complexity: a deep straw color with evident golden reflections, intense and explosive aromas. Surprising initial sensation, notes of undergrowth, moss and fern that reveal the refinement for many years on the yeasts with cork stopper. Clear hints of candied citrus and quince jam blend with notes of toasted hazelnut and caramel. A fragrant Franciacorta that "as it breathes" evolves towards iodine nuances, beeswax and cedar wood. The taste impresses with solidity and intensity, creamy and almost "meaty" with a powerful and aromatic finish.

Draft

February 9, 1981

Refining on the yeasts

Average age 42 years, of which 7 with bottles lying down and 34 years with bottles stacked “sur pointe”. Disgorgement on request.

Dosage at disgorgement

No addition of liqueur - “Dosage Zéro”.

Analytical data at disgorgement

Alcohol 12.90% Vol.; pH 3.03; Total Acidity 6.10 grams/litre; Volatile Acidity 0.37 grams/litre.

Sulphites

Total sulphur dioxide less than 47 milligrams/litre (maximum legal limit: 185 milligrams/litre).