Berlucchi ’61 Nature Extra Aging – The Art of Time
04
Sep 2025
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The Berlucchi ’61 Nature Extra Aging Limited Edition is a true tribute to the art of waiting, with deep respect for tradition and a constant dedication to oenological excellence. A project that tells the philosophy of the Borgonato maison and its extraordinary ability to interpret great vintages with rare elegance.
After the success of the first edition, dedicated to the exceptional 2009, 2010, and 2011 vintages and produced in just 200 cases, the second Limited Edition celebrates the three expressions of the 2012 vintage: ’61 Nature Blanc de Blancs, ’61 Nature Rosé, and ’61 Nature. An exclusive collection, presented in only 250 boxes, encapsulating time, terroir, and the mastery of a maison that has elevated the Italian metodo classico to a benchmark of excellence.
All cuvées have undergone prolonged aging on the lees, with a period of up to thirteen years sur lie. It is precisely this gesture, performed in the historic cellars of the maison, that imparts extraordinary depth, complexity, and refinement to these Franciacorta wines. The bouquet is enriched with tertiary nuances and with an oenological breadth that intertwines intimately with tradition.
Not by chance, the maison chose the graffe for bottle closure: the legendary clasp that once anchored the cork in the earliest bottles of metodo classico. A choice that becomes a symbol of craftsmanship and respect for history.
The disgorgement of the three cuvées took place on a single date, May 30, 2024, sealing the unitary character of this limited edition.
The 2012 Vintage 2012 is remembered in Franciacorta as a complex year, marked by pronounced climatic variability. After a cool and rainy spring, which slowed vegetative growth and extended the period between budbreak and flowering, abundant rainfall continued until July, well above the average of the previous decade.
By late summer, however, the situation reversed: a sharp rise in temperatures, higher than historical averages, allowed the grapes to recover the delay, reaching impeccable phenolic ripeness.
From this combination of natural challenges and rewards are born the Nature 2012 Extra Aging wines: sculpted by time, intense, vibrant, and profound, capable of conveying in every sip the authentic essence of the terroir and the mastery of a maison that has written the history of Italian metodo classico.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature 2012 Blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, from estate-owned vineyards located in the municipalities of Corte Franca and Provaglio d’Iseo. The Arzelle vineyard, on deep moraine soil, gives the base wines excellent structure; Rovere and San Carlo, on soils of fine deposits, bring freshness and marked acidity. Overall balance is guaranteed by the Chardonnay from the Ragnoli vineyard, on fluvioglacial soils, while the same vineyard, also planted with Pinot Noir, contributes elegance and depth. All vineyards have an average age of 15 years and are farmed with environmentally respectful practices. The wine was aged 12% in wood, without malolactic fermentation, thus preserving freshness and gustatory tension.
On the nose it is intense and fine, with a complex and elegant aromatic profile: citrus notes of citron and mandarin blend with hints of ripe fruit, nuances of butter croissant, dried fruit, delicate spices, and subtle shades of aromatic herbs. Everything is enhanced by balsamic tones and a fine white floral note. On the palate it reveals structure and depth, with creamy effervescence, dynamic balance, and perfectly integrated freshness. The finish is savory, with a citrus-driven trail that lends drive and tension, highlighting the vibrant personality of this vintage.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature Blanc de Blancs 2012 100% Chardonnay exclusively from the central portion of the Arzelle vineyard, where 20-year-old vines sink their roots into deep moraine soil, yielding base wines of great structure. The specific microclimate of the plot, characterized by good heat accumulation in the soil and optimal exposure, ensures regular ripening. In this context, phenolic ripeness prevailing over technological ripeness makes it possible to obtain complex, powerful, yet savory base wines.
On the nose it opens with aromas of wildflowers, toasted hazelnuts, white peach, and golden apple, enriched by notes of pastry, nougat, and pineapple. The aromatic palette, elegant and multifaceted, evolves progressively, revealing expressive richness and enveloping complexity. On the palate the wine is fresh and rounded, with touches of candied fruit at mid-palate. Expressive and profound, it delivers a wide and layered aromatic journey, unfolding sip after sip with an extraordinary length and an almond-like persistence.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature Rosé 2012 100% Pinot Noir from estate-owned vineyards in the municipality of Corte Franca: Ragnoli, Quindicipiò, and Gaspa, with an average age of over 20 years. The Ragnoli vineyard, on fluvioglacial soils, is dedicated to white vinification and brings minerality and balance. Quindicipiò, located on mid-hills with well-ventilated moraine soils, light and rich in pebbles, yields perfectly healthy grapes, ideal for rosé vinification. Finally, the Gaspa vineyard, on shallow, gravelly moraine soils, produces very ripe, rich, and concentrated grapes, vinified in red with pre-fermentation maceration.
In appearance, it shows a luminous antique pink. On the nose, it reveals a broad and multifaceted aromatic profile: small red berries, pomegranate, and raspberry intertwine with citrus notes of pink grapefruit and dark citrus fruits, floral hints of geranium and hibiscus, marzipan, dried fruit, sweet and bitter almond, with delicate spicy nuances. On the palate the attack is creamy, broad, and enveloping, dominated by juicy, well-defined red fruit. The structure is vinous and balanced, with a long, full persistence, characterized by great finesse and pleasantness. The finish confirms the depth and aromatic richness, sealing the distinctive elegance of this characterful Rosé.
The ’61 Nature Vertical: 2009 – 2010 – 2011 The previous edition of the ’61 Nature Limited Edition gave life to a prestigious triptych, composed of three extraordinary vintages: 2009, 2010, and 2011.
All cuvées were disgorged on a single date, May 25, 2023, sealing the stylistic and temporal unity of the collection.
A small vertical that, through the lens of time, delivers three unique interpretations, united by refinement, elegance, and the unmistakable signature of the maison. A sensory journey celebrating the depth of metodo classico and Berlucchi’s ability to sculpt time with mastery.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature 2009 Blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. 2009 is remembered in Franciacorta as a generous and regular year: slightly early budbreak and an overall warm climate, interspersed with providential rains, favored balanced grape development, reaching optimal ripeness.
On the nose it opens with a rich and elegant bouquet: elderflower, fruity notes of pineapple, apricot, and ripe pear blend with citrus aromas of citron, hints of toasted almonds, herbal accents, and delicate pastry nuances. On the palate it reveals vibrant sapidity and citrusy freshness, supported by a fine and elegant structure. The absence of dosage enhances its authenticity, while mineral tension provides depth and dynamism. The sip is creamy, with long persistence, laying bare the most sincere and refined soul of Franciacorta.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature 2010
Blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. 2010 was a vintage marked by unusually cool temperatures throughout the growing season, particularly during ripening. Harvest proceeded slowly, with picking differentiated by plot, allowing meticulous grape selection. The musts immediately showed high acidity and pronounced aromatic finesse, ideal premises for long aging.
The aromatic profile is rich and layered: pastry and bread-making notes intertwine with almond, wisteria flowers, peach, and pineapple, citrus aromas of citron and orange, dried fruit, hazelnut, honey, and a subtle mineral note of silex. On the palate it stands out for fullness and vigor, with perfect gustatory-olfactory correspondence. Savory, fresh, and creamy, supported by fine, persistent effervescence. The long finish recalls toasted hazelnuts and a note of fresh sage, sealing a harmonious, elegant wine of great longevity.
Berlucchi ’61 Nature 2011 Blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. 2011 was a vintage marked by a warmer-than-average spring and a cool, rainy summer, with thermal excursions ideal for slow, regular ripening. The grapes reached impeccable health and excellent acidity, conditions that granted the vintage longevity and distinction.
On the nose it expresses an intense and multifaceted bouquet: bread crust, citrus notes, fruity aromas of renetta apple, peach, medlar, and pineapple, hints of aromatic herbs intertwined with dried fruit, toasted hazelnuts, and roasted coffee. Delicate spices and floral nuances of gardenia also emerge. On the palate the wine is sleek and aristocratic, with citrus freshness and mineral tension that merge into a refined balance between creaminess and vitality. The structure is elegant and persistent, the sip full and savory, with fruity echoes and an almond-like finish of great pleasantness. A wine of character, complex and fine, that precisely conveys the identity of the vintage.
🔗 Find out more about Berlucchi and its ’61 Nature Extra Aging cuvées at: 🌐 www.berlucchi.it
