Franciacorta Brut, Esus (2015) - Le Marchesine
"Esus" is Le Marchesine's flagship cuvée, made only in the best vintages with long ageing. Produced in Lombardy, following the Metodo Classico. The 2015 vintage stands out for its aromatic notes of green apple, hazelnut and brioche, with a citrus aftertaste. Le Marchesine, the winery behind it, is known for its focus on sustainability and innovation.

Franciacorta Brut, Esus (2015) - Le Marchesine
Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
Area: Italy, Lombardy, Franciacorta
Appellation: Franciacorta Satèn DOCG
Grape variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot bianco
Vintage: 2015
Winery: Le Marchesine
Alcohol: 12.5%
The appellation: Franciacorta Satèn DOCG
The Franciacorta Satèn DOCG is one of the most elegant and refined expressions of Franciacorta, the famous traditional method sparkling wine of Lombardy. Marked by a unique creaminess and a very fine, silky perlage, Satèn is a type exclusive to the Franciacorta appellation, designed to bring out freshness, finesse and elegance. The term Satèn indeed recalls silk and identifies a sparkling wine that is softer and more delicate than the other Franciacortas, thanks to a lower internal pressure (maximum 5 atmospheres) and to the selection of white grapes only.
Find out more about Franciacorta Satèn DOCGWhat to eat with Franciacorta Brut, Esus
Who makes it: Le Marchesine
Le Marchesine is a historic Franciacorta winery, founded in 1985 by the Biatta family, with winegrowing roots dating back to the 16th century. For generations the family has pursued a craft-based yet innovative approach, establishing itself as one of the benchmark producers of Franciacorta Metodo Classico. Thanks to the use of advanced technology and an obsessive attention to quality, Le Marchesine produces refined, elegant and long-lived sparkling wines that express the Franciacorta terroir at its best.
Find out more about Le MarchesineThe vine of Franciacorta Brut, Esus
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted and prestigious white grape varieties in the world, originally from Burgundy, in France. Thanks to its great adaptability to different climates and soils, Chardonnay is grown in many wine regions, expressing unique characteristics according to the terroir and the winemaking style.
Find out morePinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most fascinating and noble black grape varieties in the world. Famous for its elegance and complexity, this variety is at the heart of some of the most prestigious wines on the globe, particularly the wines of Burgundy and Champagne AOC. Its versatility and its ability to reflect the terroir make it one of the varieties most loved by winemakers and wine lovers alike.
Find out morePinot bianco
Pinot Bianco is a white grape variety belonging to the Pinot family (it derives from a mutation of Pinot Grigio, which in turn came from a mutation of Pinot Nero). It is appreciated for its elegant, delicate and versatile profile, with good acidity and the ability to suit both simple and complex winemaking, including ageing on the lees or in wood. In Italy it finds its best expression in Alto Adige, where it gives fresh, mineral and long-lived wines, but it is also grown in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino, Lombardy and parts of Veneto.
Find out moreFranciacorta Brut, Esus: the area

Franciacorta
Franciacorta, in Lombardy, in the province of Brescia, is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine regions and the birthplace of Italian traditional-method sparkling wines. This area, which stretches across the morainic hills around Lake Iseo, has a unique terroir with mineral-rich soils, a temperate climate and marked day-night temperature swings, ideal for producing wines of great elegance and longevity.The area is famous for producing Franciacorta DOCG, Italy’s most renowned sparkling wine, made from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco, with the addition in some styles of Erbamat, an old native grape variety. Franciacorta is also an outstanding wine-tourism destination, with historic wineries, beautiful landscapes and a wine culture rooted in tradition.
Find out more about FranciacortaClimate: Continental
Altitude: Low to mid altitude (200–500 m above sea level)
Soil: Morainic
Geographical setting: Hilly
Profile of Franciacorta Brut, Esus
Primary aromas: Citrus, Green apple, Mineral, Pear
Secondary aromas: Brioche, White flowers, dried fruit, Yeast, Toasted bread
Tertiary aromas: Butter, Toastiness
Tasting notes: This sparkling wine shows an intense straw-yellow colour with golden reflections and a fine, persistent perlage. On the nose it offers a broad, elegant bouquet, with notes of ripe apple, pear, citrus and hints of bread crust, enriched by mineral shades. On the palate it is fresh, balanced and harmonious, with a long, pleasantly tangy finish. Perfect as an aperitif, it goes well with fish dishes and white meats. A wine of great personality and refinement.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Full-bodied |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannin | Absent |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Finish | Long |
| Colour | Golden yellow |
| Clarity | Clear |
Winemaking methods used for Franciacorta Brut, Esus
Metodo Classico
The Metodo Classico is a refined sparkling winemaking technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. This method, also known as méthode champenoise (when speaking of Champagne), involves a second fermentation in the bottle, which gives the wine its characteristic fine, persistent bubbles, together with complex aromas and an elegant structure.
Find out moreSecond fermentation in the bottle
Second fermentation in the bottle is the distinctive stage of the Metodo Classico (or Champenoise), the technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. After a first fermentation that gives rise to a base wine, the wine is bottled with the addition of a “liqueur de tirage” (a mixture of sugar and yeasts) which starts a new fermentation directly in the bottle, responsible for the natural formation of the bubbles. This practice lies behind some of the world's most refined wines, such as Champagne, Franciacorta, Trento DOC and Crémant.
Find out moreAgeing methods used for Franciacorta Brut, Esus
In bottle (over 36 months)
Ageing in bottle for more than 36 months is a practice reserved for wines for long laying down, designed for those seeking depth, finesse and maximum aromatic development. During this extended period, the wine matures sheltered from light and oxygen, letting time do its work in silence. This stage is particularly important for vintage wines, riservas and great classics, which in this way reach a perfect balance between intensity, elegance and sensory complexity.
Find out moreTime on the lees for Franciacorta Brut, Esus
- Very long (over 36 months)