Medium Body, Dry (Pinot Nero). DOCG Oltrepo' Pavese Metodo Classico Brut. Alc 12.5%.

Classic method (Champagne-style) pink sparkling made Brut (dry) from historic estate, under the guidance of respected oenologist Federico Staderini. This is not only an important wine style but the most important grape for this specific area of west Lombardy (see wine expert's article below).

* NEW LABEL DESIGN *

TASTING NOTES: The colour of old rose petals, with elegant fruity aromas of red berries such as blackberries and wild strawberries. In the mouth, soft and fruity; pleasantly mineral, with a long and lively finish.

From the winery:

"The highest part of our East-facing vineyard offers fruity grapes that blend into the salmon-cherry pink hues of this fresh, tangy rosé. Each sip erupts with the sweet brightness of strawberries, red currants and raspberries:  the vibrant palette of the underwood on  your tongue. DOCG Oltrepo’ Pavese Metodo Classico Pinot Nero; Rosé sparkling Classic Method Brut; 100% Pinot Nero;

The grapes are carefully selected and hand harvested into crates. Dosage decided after blind tasting for each disgorgement; Aged 60 months on the lees."

MEET THE WINERY: Click here to read more background on this family-run estate.

Finally, an excerpt from an article by Walter Speller for JancisRobinson.com, written in summer 2021, says "I have rarely come across an interesting sparkling wine from [Lombardy's Oltrepò Pavese area] ... and when I did I filed the experience under 'exception proving the rule'. Therefore I was quite thrown off balance when I tasted the metodo classico wines from Castello di Cigognola ... Owned by Moratti, a family of entrepreneurs, the team at the property have set themselves the lofty goal of challenging not Franciacorta but Champagne. Their secret weapon is north-facing, mature vineyards of Pinot Noir at elevations of at least 350 m (1,150 ft). Fully ripe grapes are what they are after, something which Oltrepò Pavese routinely delivers year after year, making adding sugar at any stage of the winemaking process unnecessary. The Morattis have taken on board star oenologist Federico Staderini, who among others is responsible for the Poggio di Sotto Brunellos that are extremely elegant even though they are grown in one of Montalcino's warmer areas. And that seems to be the Staderini signature: Oltrepò Pavese can be very warm, but the first releases of Castello di Cigognola do not reflect this in the least. What they show, dare I say it, is that Oltrepò Pavese can be a very good place to produce top Pinot Noirs and not just in sparkling form."