exclusive debut

2022 Leonia Metodo Classico Brut

Pomino Spumante Bianco DOC

"Bold: a wine that expresses the desire to embark upon new paths, courageous and determined, with an expressive and elegant character - like my great-great-grandmother Leonia, who inspired me in my innovative choices. She was the one who planted French vines in Pomino, vinified them in the first gravity-fed cellar in Italy, and earned the gold medal at the Paris Expo in 1878."

- Lamberto Frescobaldi

Castello Pomino

The castle at Pomino was constructed in 1500, and the wines produced from this estate have been garnering acclaim for centuries. Only 20 miles east of Florence, the Pomino area, which takes its name from this estate, is a universe apart from the traditional Tuscan wine-growing areas. It is a mountain region, cooler, with twice as much rain as the average in Tuscany, snow in the winter, and a landscape defined by sequoias, firs and chestnut trees – it looks, smells and feels completely different, and is the original and most suited area for white wine production in Tuscany.

In 1716, when the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici issued a notice recognizing the quality of the wines of four territories in Tuscany, he listed Pomino alongside Chianti, Carmignano and the Val d’Arno di Sopra. This proclamation is widely considered a very early step on the way to the modern DOC classification. The modern history of the estate began in the mid-1880s, when Leonia degli Albizzi, the Burgundy-born wife of Angiolo Frescobaldi, built a gravity-fed winery and began growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at altitude. Learn more here.

Vinification and aging

The grapes were harvested by hand into 15kg crates during the coolest hours of the day. When they reached the cellar, the grapes were pressed slowly and softly to extract the must from the heart of the berries. This was followed by a 12-hour cold clarification, which allowed for clarification, a decisive operation in the creation of a great qualitative harmony, typical of Leonia. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a constant and controlled temperature; a certain part was fermented in wood. Next came the blending of the different cuvées of Chardonnay and Pinot noir, followed by tirage (addition of liqueur de tirage) and re-fermentation in the bottle with long ageing on the lees. After ageing on the lees, riddling takes place to collect deposits of fine lees in the neck of the bottle. All that remains is the last thing to do, dégorgement, to make Leonia pristine. Refinement consists of further bottle ageing.

Vintage notes

The climatic trend of this vintage was characterised - at the end of May - by a rather early blossoming in the vineyards: temperatures typical of the summer months were recorded during this period. It is no coincidence that summer 2022 will be remembered as one of the longest in recent years. In the first part of the summer period, plant shoots grew and flower clusters set faster than normal, offering excellent uniformity in the vineyards. In July, however, the vines adapted to the outdoor environment, slowing down their initial momentum to protect themselves from the summer heat. The timely rain on Assumption Day in mid-August finally resulted in clear musts with a fragrant appearance and taste.

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Leonia Brut sparkling has an intense straw yellow color. The perlage is extremely fine and persistent and contributes to the overall elegance of the product. The bouquet is complex and varied, the first nose is extremely fresh and brings to mind hints of citrus and white flowers. This is followed by tertiary notes due to the partial fermentation in wood and typical notes of pastry and bread crust due to the prolonged ageing on the lees. The palate is fresh, savoury and characterised by a splendid taste-olfactory correspondence. Long finish.

Domaine Roy & fils members are invited to enjoy exclusive first access with their Fall Release.

The 2022 Leonia Metodo Classico Brut is offered in limited release at $60 per bottle, with preferred pricing extended to our members.