Antica Fratta, Franciacorta DOCG Brut, Lombardy, Italy

Tasting Note: In many ways Franciacorta is the Champagne region of Italy.

It is produced in the Lombardy region of Italy with as tight, and some cases, tighter production values than Champagne.

This is a nice bottle to begin your sparkling wine study with because Franciacorta is a chardonnay-dominated sparkler.

Pale-intensity lemon in color, this wine has a nose of biscuit, green apple, pear, blossom, chamomile, strawberry and barely-ripened apricot.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied Franciacorta delivers flavors suggested on the nose along with brioche.

The wine is medium-plus in acidity and flavor intensity.

The mousse has tight, medium-sized bubbles and expresses a pleasing autolytic character.

There is a hint of residual sweetness on the medium-plus finish, though the wine remains brut and dry in style.

Well-made and will make you want to sample more sparklers from this region that are far more affordable than Champagne.