As many of you know by now, I am currently in Italy on a three week trip through Rome and several wine regions. Although I have not taking notes on most of the wines I have tried as those were in social situations and I didn’t want to be that guy, here are a few that I really enjoyed and jotted down a few thoughts.

After leaving the wonderful group of wine folks in Umbria, I travelled north to Lombardy and Lago d’Iseo which nestles up against the Franciacorta wine region. While I will have more on some of my visits to specific wineries in the region, here are a few bottles that I purchased while there.

NV Cantina Chiara Ziliani Franciacorta Conte di Provaglio Satèn, Franciacorta DOCG, Italy: Restaurant $28. 100%(?) Chardonnay. I have been in Italy for close to ten days and I have not written a single note until now. I was with a group of other wine professionals and I didn’t want to be “that guy” and always be taking notes and removed from the group. So I didn’t write. Not a word. Well, after a long drive earlier today, I am now sitting on the shore of the Lago d’Iseo, not far from where this wine was made. Yellow, even close to golden in the glass with an intense lemon meringue vibe as well as a mineral note and just a dash of a vegetal component (I really want to say “celery” but certainly in a good way). The palate is tart, even really tart, with a nuttiness (which I honestly couldn’t find on the nose) that is almost unifying. And that is it: this wine has numerous lovely attributes, but they seem to fall just sort of coming together. Very Good. 89 Points.

NV Le Cantorie Franciacorta Brut Rosé Rosi delle Margherite, Franciacorta DOCG, Italy: Restaurant: 38€. 100% Pinot Noir. It was my second night on Lake d’Iseo in Lombardy and I found a quaint little restaurant not too far from my hotel with a solid wine list. I did not reserve a table on the terrace so I was forced to sit in the dining room, which was pretty close to sweltering. I knew going in that I was staying on the Franciacorta bus, and I opted for this rosé from a producer with whom I have no knowledge whatsoever. And it was fine. More than fine. Pale orangish-pink in the bottle with a fine sparkle and hints of strawberry, cherry, and even raspberry. The palate comes off as quite dry (maybe *too* dry?) with tons of fruit and balancing acidity. At first, I was a bit hum-ho about this wine, but I took more than 50% of it back to my room and I came around on it. This is Excellent. 90 Points.

NV Berlucchi Guido Franciacorta Cuvée Imperiale Max Rosé, Franciacorta DOCG, Italy: Retail 15€. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. I am in Lombardy, just outside the Franciacorta region, on the northern end of Lago d’Iseo for a few days and I picked this up from the Conad grocery store right up the street. I did not realize it when I purchased the bottle, but it is an Extra Dry, but at the lower end of the scale (about 13 g/l). Still, it works. Pinkish salmon in the glass with some wild strawberry on the nose, the palate is round and full initially with rather intense fruit. The acidity comes in, eventually, on the midpalate and carries on through to the finish. A nicely made wine, a good representative of the region, but perhaps a tad sweet? Very Good. 89 Points.

2023 Barone Pizzini Terre di Franciacorta Polzina, Curtefranca DOC, Italy: Restaurant 22€. Curtefranca Bianco. 100% Chardonnay. It was my last night on Lago d’Iseo and I had done a tasting at Barone Pizzini earlier in the day. Those were all sparkling wines, of course, but nonetheless I thought I would give this still Chard a shot. Not disappointed. Fairly light in the glass with plenty of citrus on the nose, both lemon and lime, with a faint mineral note. The palate is tart, lively, and balanced with good fruit upfront and more than enough acidity to carry through to the finish. I did not do much research, but I doubt this sees much oak, if any at all. The price was right, the food was passable (sorry, my carbonara is waaaayyy better, just sayin’), and the scenery was impeccable. What else does one want? I mean, other than my wife, who is not with me on this trip…. Excellent. 90 Points.