Quattrocento, also presented as 400, is Nicola Gatta's Extra Brut blend from the limestone hills of Gussago in Lombardy. Chardonnay and white-vinified Pinot Noir come together in a wine given around forty months on the lees. It sits between the freshness of an aperitif sparkler and a more developed, dinner-oriented style, combining fruit, savoury detail and a dry finish. Gatta's individual approach gives the blend a distinctive personality.
- Aromas: Ripe apple and citrus peel, with nuts, subtle pastry and a gently oxidative, savoury background.
- Palate: Dry and energetic, with a fine mousse and fresh acidity. A rounded, lees-influenced middle adds substance before a persistent, savoury finish.
- Style: A traditional-method Extra Brut, combining Chardonnay freshness and Pinot Noir texture with a little developed complexity.
- Winemaking: The varieties ferment with indigenous yeasts before the second fermentation in bottle. Around forty months on the lees develops texture and integration, with no added sulphur in Gatta's cellar approach.
- Cellaring: Enjoy now. Further holding depends on the disgorgement date and storage. Keep in a cool and dark location. Check the release details before prolonged cellaring.
- Food Pairing: Fried seafood, roast chicken, mushrooms or hard cheese; a useful choice for moving from appetisers into a more substantial meal.
This is a lovely bottle for the evening when you want bubbles to do more than open proceedings. Start with a few savoury bites, keep it on the table for dinner and enjoy the extra depth that time on the lees brings to the glass. Serve around 8-10°C in a tulip-shaped wine glass so the bubbles and aromas have room to develop.