Ca’ del Bosco: a new beginning for Annamaria Clementi

With vintage 2008 Annamaria Clementi is not only totally organic but also zéro dosage 

November 9 was a special day for Maurizio Zanella and not just because it was his birthday but because it coincided with the much-awaited presentation, held in the utmost secret up until the last moment, which was announced with the unmistakable message: “Ca’ del Bosco: a new beginning for Annamaria Clementi”. It was a moment that marked an important transformation for this Franciacorta estate that more than any other has known how to interpret change and has distinguished itself with a recognizable identifying style that is consistent yet in constant evolution, backed up by constant research, experimentation and quest for perfection.

A special occasion was chosen to present this little-great revolution at Ca’ del Bosco: the opening of the exclusive tasting at the Villa d’Este Wine Symposium in Cernobbio. This was the ninth edition of this celebrated parterre with symposiums dedicated to incredible wines, from Egon Müllerto Domaine Armand Rousseau just to name some examples. It was a perfect setting for this new Cuvée Annamaria Clementi which with vintage 2008 has become organic and zero dosage. Aside from being organic, the 2008 harvest was the first to be subjected to the washing and drying of the grapes according to the so-called Metodo Ca’ del Bosco, an authentic ‘spa for grapes’  the result of long research by enologist Stefano Capelli, who was also the first to patent a system of dégorgement in the absence of oxygen.

The experience from 30 harvests, the suitability of the terroir and over-30-year-old vines have allowed the grapes to fully express themselves and achieve a balance that has been described as “extraordinary, almost perfect”. And this, in turn, has permitted Annamaria Clementi to be for the first time ‘zéro dosage’, without the addition of any sugar liqueur, in order to exalt its purity and integrity. Only the Rosé version, made only from Pinot Noir, remains ‘Extra Brut’ with a minimum dosage of grape sugar to settle the caprices of certain harvests and better manage the style of the wine.

The tasting that preceded the presentation of vintage 2008 was a way to approach and discovery this wine by sampling unprecedented versions of Cuvée Annamaria Clementi that were disgorged for the occasion as zéro dosage wines. It began with the extraordinarily expressive 1985, when the Franciacorta was not yet dedicated to the founder of Ca’ del Bosco but was just their vintage bubbly, followed by vintage 1990 which was more winey and thick, almost balsamic. Then came the wonderful 1996 with its buttery and hazelnut notes but that was surprisingly fresh and precise and very refined. This was followed by the 1999, which was perhaps the version that excited us the least but considering its 16 years was an example of consistency. The new millennium began with an incredible 2001 with its energetic and vibrant style that made it very elegant. The 2005 was solid and rich in texture with a lot of tension, while the 2006 was a very great year that is only now beginning to show its cards from aging which will certainly be amplified with time.

The presentation of 2008 was a great preview. A lot of attention was paid to detail that included a new label, inspired by the colors of the land where the wine is made, the gray and the pink of the rocks and pebbles, with the paper made from natural fibers that give it a unique feel, the product of craftsmanship and eco-compatible methods. And making a comeback was the metal cage that is more airtight as tradition demands. This wine is both is a homage to the woman who inspired an unequalled path to success and a great satisfaction for Maurizio Zanella who has once again demonstrated how change is only a means to challenge history and a achieve timeless grace. The memory of Ca’ del Bosco.

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