Somehow, I had the impression from Tom Stevenson & Essi Avellan that they were less than impressed w/ Franciacorta in their last Christie's Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wines (http://bit.ly/frcacrta).

How glad I was when I read Stevenson's article in the last edition of "The World Of Fine Wine" when he said that his tasting of 150 of the region's top producers "was one of the most impressive tastings across the board I have experienced in any sparkling wine region outside Champagne"...