Antica Fratta
Lombardy
About the Winery
Built in 1450 to host the bishops visiting Olivetana Abbey, the villa and the cellars of Antica Fratta are the results of ambitious projects. Located in the municipality of Monticelli Brusati, at the north-eastern part of Franciacorta DOCG, we could find the first drawing in the napoleonic Registry from 1809, followed by a transformation as the structure has been held by the most nobel family of the region, as seen in a latter testimony in 1866 The People: Three generations of entrepreneurs looked after the timeless cellar with different purposes: from Luigi Rossetti, who built the cellar in 1850 for preserving his red wines, to Franco Ziliani, who began producing here the first Franciacorta vintages in 1979, followed by Luigi Birolini the current manager, still sharing one common ambition: the pursuit of excellence in all of its forms. As the Latin word "Antica" literally means "forward", they always worked with a great sense of future looking at where their ambition would have taken them.
Lombardy
Lying to the south of Lake Iseo, in the heart of Lombardy, Franciacorta has a wide range of soils and site climates that make it a natural wine territory. These are very specific sand- and silt-rich soils typically poor in clay which are often considerably thick and extremely permeable. The ground is strewn with abundant stones of various shapes, types and colors which were, for centuries, used as building materials for villas, farmhouses and broli, the characteristic stone walls surrounding the area's houses and vineyards. Franciacorta extends over nineteen municipalities, and the area is equally enthralling for its cultural heritage, history and superb countryside.
Vineyard(s)
Ratings & Reviews
Title | Item | Vintage | Publication | Score | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antica Fratta | Franciacorta 'Essence Rose' 2018 | 2018 | 89 | This elegant wine gently lifts from the glass with aromas of wild strawberries, candied citrus and wildflowers. Creamy on the palate, with hints of hazelnut and vanilla finishing with a soft mousse and long finish. | |
Antica Fratta | Franciacorta 'Essence Rose' 2018 | 2018 | 94 | Complexity and sensuousness intertwine in this pale-copper blend of 60% Pinot Noir of 40% Chardonnay, which aged 42 months on the lees. Yeasty, lightly earthy aromas juxtapose fragrances of raspberry, cranberry, burnt orange peel, and peach skin as well as a slight nuttiness. More orange and salted strawberry align with rosemary and white pepper on the palate, whose fleshy texture meets its match in energetic bubbles, vivacious acidity, and a bit of tannic structure. | |
Antica Fratta | Franciacorta 'Essence Rose' 2018 | 2018 | 93 | The 2018 Rose Essence is coy in the glass, lifting up with a nuanced mix of white strawberries and citrus-tinged florals. It's more lively on the palate, slashing across the senses with an elegant bead of fine bubbles and ripe red berries that are perfectly offset by saline-mineral tones toward the close. A burst of inner sweetness punctuates the finale as hints of inner rose, licorice and nectarine slowly fade. A bit more bottle age may help the aromatics to evolve. Otherwise, this is already highly pleasurable. It's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.
Drinking window: 2023-2027 | |
Antica Fratta | Franciacorta 'Essence Rose' 2018 | 2018 | 91 | Rose petals and lavender give way to citrus-kissed peach as the 2019 Brut Rosé Franciacorta Essence evolves in the glass. Silken and round, this displays ripe wild berry fruits lifted by juicy acidity as a mineral tinge forms toward the close. The 2019 tapers off fresh yet long, leaving a tinge of licorice and spice, while the mouth is left watering for more.
Drinking window 2023-2028 |
