Contadi Castaldi, Zero, Franciacorta

Very happy to be trying this again after a couple of years, as it has aged almost imperceptibly. Clear, day bright, medium yellow with green hues. The nose is clean, youthful, with apple, pear, lemon, sourdough bread, white flowers and toasted almond. The palate is dry, to bone-dry, with medium (+) acidity and medium alcohol. Medium (+) flavor intensity and a long, slightly bitter and mineral finish. Tasted blind after its sibling from 2007, this was remarkably more youthful and …

Tasted blind. Clear, day bright, medium yellow with green hues. The nose is clean, youthful, with apple, pear, lemon, sourdough bread, white flowers and toasted almond. There's also a smoky, earthy and stony backdrop. The palate is dry, to bone-dry, with medium (+) acidity and medium alcohol. This vintage is noticeably more tart and lean than the 2009. Medium (+) flavor intensity and a long, slightly bitter and mineral finish. If older vintages are any indication, it should continue to …

4thWednesdays - Beyond the Bubble - Dec 2017 (Texas Wine School, Houston, Tx) : Tasted Blind A: Pale lemon green N: Apple, lemon, the skin of a nut, rice pudding, yeast, wet stone, hazelnut. Developing P: Dry, high acidity, medium (-) alcohol, medium body, medium (+) intensity and finish. Some found reductive aromas. $30 a bottle C: I think this has room to develop further. Very Good Quality wine.

The nose showed fresh-sliced yellow apple, spring florals, a hint of fennel and crushed stone. On the palate, I found rich, soft textures with mineral-laden green apple and savory herbal tones. It finished fresh with hints of stone fruit and lingering salinity.