Marchese Antinori Contessa Maggi Riserva 2011

This 2011 Franciacorta DOCG Riserva is made at Tenuta Montenisa, in the heart of Franciacorta, around the village of Calino, near Lake Iseo. The vineyards surrounding the villa, historically owned by the Maggi family, have been the heart of the sparkling wine project since 1999.
It is produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. The winemaking process, according to the Antinori specifications, involves manual harvesting, soft pressing of whole clusters, and the use of free-run must (first pressing) with initial fermentation at a controlled temperature; the following spring, the second fermentation takes place in the bottle, with prolonged aging on the lees.
As “Riserva”, according to regulations, vintage wines must mature for at least 60 months on the lees, a requirement that explains the structure and complexity of the evolutionary profile.

In the glass, it displays a brilliant golden yellow, with a creamy foam and a fine, persistent perlage; the nose is intense and refined, while the palate combines harmony and complexity, with hints of white-fleshed fruit that lend elegance.
The 2011 vintage, tasted vertically, highlights a mature and “winy” dimension: notes of walnuts, dates, hints of resin and pine nuts, dried apricot and honey, with a nobly bitter finish and an impression of great maturity.
In line with this evolved register, other tastings report nuances of pastry, toasted hazelnut and sweet spices, supported by freshness and sapidity.

The name “Contessa Maggi” recalls the Maggi family, linked to the historic villa around which the estate’s vineyards grow (hence the reference on the label).
From an evolutionary perspective, the long aging on the lees required for a Riserva (minimum 60 months) favors complex, evolved notes and a deeper texture: in 2011, the wine today expresses itself with full maturity, integrated perlage, and a complexity that tends to grow in the glass.