What is Satèn wine? – ask Decanter
Find out about this sparkling wine from the Franciacorta region, and see three to try from our tasters...
What is Satèn wine? – ask Decanter
Satèn, meaning ‘silk’ in Italian, is unique to the Franciacorta region, and its come-hither style gives it the opportunity to stand out in a crowded wine market.
Always produced from Chardonnay, Satèn is unlike other sparkling wines made in Franciacorta – or Champagne for that matter – as it has less pressure in the bottle: five bars compared with six.
In order to achieve this, producers add less sugar in the liqueur de tirage: 18-20grams/litre as opposed to 24g/l for fully sparkling wines.
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The lower level of sugar produces less alcohol and less carbon dioxide during the second fermentation, hence the lower level of pressure.
The style is always brut (maximum of 15g/l).
The resulting wine is gentle, creamy and – whether or not it is the power of suggestion – silky.
Rebecca Gibb MW is an award-winning wine writer. Originally published as part of a feature in the Decanter Italy supplement 2018. Subscribe to Decanter magazine here.
Three Franciacorta Satèn wines to try:
More wine questions answered here.
Corte Aura, Millesimato, Franciacorta, Satèn, Lombardy, Italy, 2010
Elegant, creamy, come-hither aromas of fresh yeast and ripe apple lead onto a stylish palate full of bright citrus fruit, honey and heather. There is a fine, persistent mousse and a drying, mineral edge on the finish.
2010
Corte AuraFranciacorta
Villa Franciacorta, Franciacorta, Satèn, Lombardy, Italy, 2013
Villa Franciacorta produces wines from 37 hectares of estate-owned vineyards. They undertook extensive soil analysis in the 1960s, which has led to their philosophy of recording a snapshot in time and place by only releasing vintage wines. This example, from 100% Chardonnay, has a crisp, steely, mineral character with green apple and ripe citrus fruit. This is rounded out slightly by the touch of stone fruit on the long finish. A delicious example of Franciacorta.
2013
Villa FranciacortaFranciacorta
Bellavista, Franciacorta, Satèn, Lombardy, Italy, 2011
A 100% Chardonnay made in the locally termed satèn style, which means the fizz has a little less pressure akin to a crémant. It has a soft, gentle acidity with a deft, creamy roundness and light to medium weight and structure. It has apple and honeydew melon flavours with a touch of acacia and bread. This is charmingly good to go now and for the next two years.
2011
BellavistaFranciacorta
