Mosnel EBB – White Gold for the 180th Birthday

Mosnel EBB – White Gold for the 180th Birthday

Recently, Franciacorta winery Mosnel celebrated its 180th Birthday, and I was privileged to be invited to take part. In the course of their celebrations, they had a very special treat. It was an opportunity to taste every release of their vintage Franciacorta called Mosnel EBB, back to the very first vintage of 2003.

Such a vertical tasting had never been performed before and given limited availability, may never be possible again.

The Mosnel Story

Mosnel has 39 hectares of vineyards, located all around a handsome winery which is just about at the centre of the Franciacorta region. Originally a Venetian summer residence dating from the sixteenth century, it has a rich history. Mosnel is an impressive house, now restored to full glory, dominated by a 400 year old Lebanon Cedar, surrounded by vineyards and Mulberry trees. The smell of Jasmine hangs in the air.

The wine story here commenced in 1836, when the Barboglio family took over the estate. They’ve been there ever since. There is a long history of winemaking and other agriculture here, but it wasn’t until the sixties (which was when Franciacorta was first created) that sparkling wine was made, and Mosnel became devoted to it.

Emanuela Barzanò Barboglio was responsible for the estate during this time and pioneered fizz here, planting Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco for Franciacorta. Mosnel became one of the first Franciacorta producers and was also a founder member of the Consorzio Franciacorta. This transformation is perhaps all the more impressive given that at this time, Emanuela was a woman working in a predominantly man’s world.

Mosnel Franciacorta

Initially using the Charmat sparkling method, Mosnel changed to Metodo Classico as the potential of Franciacorta became recognised and the regulations became established. The first Mosnel Franciacorta released was in 1979. Today the estate is run by her daughter and son, Lucia and Giulio Barzanò. They are the fifth generation; Lucia oversees marketing, while Giulio has the winegrowing responsibilities. They have continued to improve the estate and the business, introducing new Franciacorta styles and supervising the conversion to organic status, becoming certified in 2014.

The Franciacorta wines made by Mosnel cover all the wine styles; Pas Dosé, Brut, Satèn, Rosé, Vintage, and Riserva. They also continue to make the Curtefranca red and white still wines and a delicious passito sweet wine made from Chardonnay.

Mosnel EBB

However, this was a chance to delve deep into the vintage wine, Mosnel EBB. Named after the initials of their late mother, Emanuela Barzanò Barboglio, it’s an homage to her, first made in 2003.

Mosnel EBB is a Blanc de Blancs and always 100% Chardonnay. Making it uses a very high-quality Metodo Classico regime. All the grapes grown are their own, using Guyot training and they are, of course, hand picked. The best Chardonnay selection comes from five small plots. Then, EBB uses only the first 50% of the juice. Each plot is vinified separately, using 225-litre French oak barriques for the primary fermentation.

 

There is no new oak barrel influence. Any new barriques are first used those for the passito wine before being passed on to use for Mosnel EBB. That means there are no oak flavours left to mark the wines. After maturing for five months, they are blended and bottled, with the tirage added for the second fermentation. After 36 months on the lees, the bottles are disgorged and receive another three months cellaring to settle down before release. Under the DOCG, the Extra Brut maximum dosage of sugar to balance the acidity is 6 g/l, but the usual EBB dosage is much less at 2-3 g/l, reflecting the extended lees ageing, leaving it balanced and dry.

The first complete vertical tasting of EBB

Here then are my notes on the first vertical tasting of Mosnel EBB. It includes the wines of every year made; from 2011 back to 2003 and the not yet disgorged 2012. One interesting point to note is that the harvest time seems to have become earlier – climate change in Franciacorta perhaps.

Flight 1

1. 2011
Technical: Harvest 12-20/8/2011. Bottled: 3/2012; Disgorgement 10/2015. 12.5% abv 5,968 Bottles. Extra Brut
An outstanding year. Fresh bread nose, ginger spice on the palate. Fresh yet richly flavoured and mouth filling. Superb acidity and concentration. Still young, lovely now but a real keeper.

2. 2010
Technical: Harvest 23-31/8/2010. Bottled: 3/2011; Disgorgement 06/2015. 13.0% abv 8,740 Bottles. Extra Brut
A more robust wine, a touch more alcohol and acidity were evident. Expected the lemons and full mouthfeel, didn’t expect a rich undertone of pears and pastry. Seemed to need a little more time in the glass to reveal itself.

3. 2009
Technical: Harvest 11-21/8/2009. Bottled: 3/2010; Disgorgement 01/2015. 12.5% abv 5,300 Bottles. Extra Brut
A darker colour now as it ages, really can tell its Chardonnay, pastry nose and ginger spice, then a focused mineral seam within a soft centre. Elegant and poised. Impressive subtle wine in an outstanding vintage.

Flight 2

4. 2008
Technical: Harvest 20/8-03/09/2008. Bottled: 3/2009; Disgorgement 04/2013 13.0% abv 6,000 Bottles. Extra Brut
An expressive nose,  full of aroma: stone fruit, lemon, pastry all interwoven. Not quite as finely balanced, a bit more austere, no ginger. It left memories of sherbet lemons.

5. 2007
Technical: Harvest 06-16/08/2007. Bottled: 4/2008; Disgorgement 06/2012. 13.0% abv 9,000 Bottles. Extra Brut
Fabulous wine, my personal favourite in the flight. Expressive, bready nose, hints of lemon. The palate is all ginger biscuit and stone fruit. Very persistent, crisp, sapidity, almost chewy. More power here. Looks younger than 2008, may last longer?

6. 2006
Technical: Harvest 21/8-04/09/2006. Bottled: 3/2007; Disgorgement 07/2010. 12.0% abv 5,850 Bottles. Extra Brut
Classic vintage. Perhaps this 2006 defines the Mosnel EBB style the best of any of the wines here as it seems to combine the freshness of the younger wines with the complexity of the older ones. A little less alcohol yet it feels fatter and creamier.

Flight 3

7. 2005
Technical: Harvest 20/8-06/08/2005. Bottled: 3/2006; Disgorgement 10/2009. 13.0% abv 6,100 Bottles. Brut
Different again, perhaps a hint of oxidation, not an unwelcome addition. Deepening gold. Has a honey character with a particular “vintage” aroma and flavour – gôut anglais, if you will. Less fresh, but I like the bruised apple character and cashew nut finish. The first year where honey has appeared with the maturity.

8. 2004
Technical: Harvest 24-31/08/2004. Bottled: 3/2005; Disgorgement 07/2008. 12.5% abv 10,000 Bottles. Brut
Ageing is showing; burnished gold, secondary flavours of honey, caramel, perhaps cinder toffee. There’s still a good acid spine supporting it all. Finesse. Some years left in the tank.

9. 2003
Technical: Harvest 25/8-04/09/2003. Bottled: 3/2004; Disgorgement 01/2007. 12.5% abv 4,600 Bottles. Brut
The first vintage of EBB, from a hot and dry year. Big boned and dark golden colour. Honey and nuts, much quieter bubbles. On edge now but still a remarkable wine, that cinder toffee note is back on the finish.

Last but not least

10. 2012 “Il Prossimo” Not yet released. Extra Brut.
Technical: Harvest 10-20/08/2012. Bottled: 3/2013; Disgorgement Not yet. 12.0% abv 5,960 Bottles.
Still pale and has a little way to go before disgorging, with time to pick up some more aromas. There is a truly outstanding balance of acid, sugar and fruit, cut with a focused minerality. Another excellent year. I’d reserve some bottles now.

Final words

The Mosnel 180 EBB tasting was very special and gave a unique insight into the winemaking at Mosnel. Mosnel EBB demonstrated its longevity, how it changes over time.

In the glass, Mosnel EBB looks like white gold, with a gentle mousse, tiny bubbles and a beautiful bead, slowly darkening in colour as it develops over the years. Here is a subtle and nuanced wine that doesn’t shout or make a fuss. Not to be rushed, it unfurls slowly and takes a few minutes in the glass to show its delicacy and complexity. Then it is at its best; for special occasions, perhaps with a few good friends and definitely with good food.

Mosnel EBB is food friendly and is a great match for the local cuisine. I later had the pleasure of drinking the 2011 EBB with a local delicacy, Tinca al Forno. Tinca is a local fish (we call it Tench) found in nearby Lake Iseo. Stuffed with breadcrumbs, parmesan and herbs then slowly baked in a wood oven. A delicious combination!

Under every Mosnel bottle capsule, quietly hidden away, are the words:

“Dal 1836, Il Tempo e l’esperanza ci insegnano come transformare le nostre uve in emozioni.”

Translation: “Since 1836, time and experience have taught us how to transform our grapes into emotions.”

That’s exactly right!

Location
Via Barboglio, 14
25050
Camignone di Passirano (BS)
Italy

 

Find out more about Franciacorta here.