Andy Howard MW, Jason Millar and Federico Moccia tasted 45 wines, with 2 Outstanding and 15 Highly Recommended
Franciacorta: Panel tasting scores
45 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 2
Highly recommended 15
Recommended 25
Commended 3
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their non-vintage, white Franciacorta wines, in any style, though not including Franciacorta Satèn.
This tasting represented a significant cross-section of the 122 producers affiliated with the Franciacorta consorzio in northern Italy’s Lombardy region. More than a third of the wines tasted were awarded the equivalent of gold or silver medals, with two scoring 95-points (see recommendations).
The average across all wines tasted topped 89-points, demonstrating the consistency of this relatively young DOCG.
Although it has been a wine-producing region for many years, the area around lake Iseo was historically dominated by red wines. The first traditional-method sparkling wine was produced in 1961 and it was recognised as a DOC in 1967, followed by elevation to DOCG in 1995.
Franciacorta was the first Italian sparkling wine to attain DOCG status, yet the regional consorzio was only created in 1990.
Scroll down to see notes and scores of the best non-vintage Franciacorta wines
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Non-vintage Franciacorta panel tasting scores
Wines were tasted blind
{}
{"wineId":"90745","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90746","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90747","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90748","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90749","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90750","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90751","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90752","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90753","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90754","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90755","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90756","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90757","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90758","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90759","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90760","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"90761","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Andy Howard MW is a Decanter contributing editor and DWWA Regional Chair. A retail wine buyer for more than 30 years, he now runs his own consultancy, Vinetrades, focusing on wine education, judging, investment and sourcing
Jason Millar is a freelance wine writer, consultant, judge and communicator, with a focus on Italy and South Africa. He has a background in buying, importing and sales, and in 2016 was the top WSET Diploma graduate worldwide
Federico Moccia is head sommelier at London private member’s club 67 Pall Mall. Originally from Brescia in northern Italy, he is an advocate for Italian wine, as well as a DWWA judge and a contributor to decanter.com
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