We dedicated the first "lesson" to answering a very frequent question: when is the right time to uncork?
The MINI ME.GA. Course takes place on Zoom and is reserved for ME.GA. Drinkers.
As you can imagine it is not easy to hold a video call with hundreds of people: for this reason I decided to limit the number of participants to 30 and therefore gave priority to ME.GA. Drinkers club member. However, I will try to repeat the main points of the lessons on this blog, so that you can have at least an idea of what was discussed and (hopefully) learn something new about the world of the Classic Method.
Here are the highlights of Volume I - "When to drink?"
How important is disgorgement?
Very, very much. The disgorgement is, after the refinement on the lees, what most characterizes the processing of a Classic Method. "Sboccare" means, in a nutshell, eliminating the yeasts from the bottle to obtain a clear wine.
After how many months can/should a bottle of Classic Method be disgorged?
There is no maximum limit. The minimums are generally regulated by the specifications. In any case, in my opinion there are no mathematical formulas: it must be the vigneron who knows the vintage and its territory who decides when is the right time to disgorge a bottle.
Your "moons" have something to do with it?
Yes. The moons (a unit of measurement indicating 28 days) represent the time after which a bottle aged on the lees is disgorged. You can find this indication on all my bottles.
What are RDs?
For R.D. we generally indicate those bottles that rest on the lees for a longer time and are therefore disgorged later. If we invert the point of view, these have come out "recently" (that is, Récemment Dégorgé abbreviated to R.D.).
What happens after disgorgement?
The renowned "liqueur d'expedition" is usually added. In the case of many producers (like yours truly) this wants to be less invasive as possible so as to let the wine remain faithful to its origins.
When is it correct / recommended to open a bottle?
Consider that disgorgement is always (even in the case of a minimally invasive addition of liqueur d'expedition) a shock for the wine itself. For this reason it is advisable to wait at least 6 months after disgorgement before opening one of my bottles.
I specify "from my bottles" because in the case of other producers, where the "liqueur d'expedition" is more invasive, it is better to wait a year or more, so as to let it integrate fully with the wine. However, if the bottle is stored correctly, there are no expiration dates.
Tip: if you love one bottle, buy two. Open one and keep it in the cellar: great wines always give us something new over time.
As you can imagine it is not easy to hold a video call with hundreds of people: for this reason I decided to limit the number of participants to 30 and therefore gave priority to ME.GA. Drinkers club member. However, I will try to repeat the main points of the lessons on this blog, so that you can have at least an idea of what was discussed and (hopefully) learn something new about the world of the Classic Method.
Here are the highlights of Volume I - "When to drink?"
How important is disgorgement?
Very, very much. The disgorgement is, after the refinement on the lees, what most characterizes the processing of a Classic Method. "Sboccare" means, in a nutshell, eliminating the yeasts from the bottle to obtain a clear wine.
After how many months can/should a bottle of Classic Method be disgorged?
There is no maximum limit. The minimums are generally regulated by the specifications. In any case, in my opinion there are no mathematical formulas: it must be the vigneron who knows the vintage and its territory who decides when is the right time to disgorge a bottle.
Your "moons" have something to do with it?
Yes. The moons (a unit of measurement indicating 28 days) represent the time after which a bottle aged on the lees is disgorged. You can find this indication on all my bottles.
What are RDs?
For R.D. we generally indicate those bottles that rest on the lees for a longer time and are therefore disgorged later. If we invert the point of view, these have come out "recently" (that is, Récemment Dégorgé abbreviated to R.D.).
What happens after disgorgement?
The renowned "liqueur d'expedition" is usually added. In the case of many producers (like yours truly) this wants to be less invasive as possible so as to let the wine remain faithful to its origins.
When is it correct / recommended to open a bottle?
Consider that disgorgement is always (even in the case of a minimally invasive addition of liqueur d'expedition) a shock for the wine itself. For this reason it is advisable to wait at least 6 months after disgorgement before opening one of my bottles.
I specify "from my bottles" because in the case of other producers, where the "liqueur d'expedition" is more invasive, it is better to wait a year or more, so as to let it integrate fully with the wine. However, if the bottle is stored correctly, there are no expiration dates.
Tip: if you love one bottle, buy two. Open one and keep it in the cellar: great wines always give us something new over time.
“The principle is to enhance a territory that is different in nature and origins, with the aim of obtaining wines that represent it without compromise.”
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If you need help or information
Nicola Gatta Agricola — Via San Rocco 37 , 25064 Gussago (BS), Italy —
VAT number 04037270982 — REA BS-583420 - Cap. Soc. 10,000€ i.v. — info@nicolagatta.eu
Made with 🍾 by 1000ml