Poggio al Tesoro, `Sondraia` Bolgheri Superiore
Vintage: 2019
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | TE201B19 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Poggio al Tesoro is a 70-hectare Bolgheri estate acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family. The first vineyard they bought, ‘Le Sondraie’, is next door to Ornellaia and was previously rented by them. It comprises 50 hectares planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Vermentino. All of the Poggio al Tesoro vineyards are located in “soprastrada”, the area east of the Bolgherese road considered the best vineyard site in Bolgheri. The soils here are complex and varied thanks to the mineral composition created by the Seggio stream from the nearby hillsides. A careful soil mapping has also allowed Allegrini to match each plot to the grape variety best suited to its unique growing conditions. This attention to detail continues today with a sustainable and organic approach in the vineyard and winery, where different vessels and techniques are utilised to optimise the potential of each variety and plot. Every year the quality of these exceptional wines continues to improve, reflecting the unique characteristics of the Bolgheri territory.
The ‘Solosole’ Vermentino is crisp and fresh, made from a specially selected Vermentino clone from Corsica. The ‘Pagus Camilla’ is a step up, made from Vermentino sourced from a prime vineyard planted on deep sandy soils by the river Camilla. It is aged on its lees with regular bâtonnage for nine months, creating aromas of Mediterranean herbs and citrus with a marked minerality on the finish. The ‘Sondraia Bianco’ is a small production of 100% Viognier, sourced from the ‘Le Sondraie’ vineyard. Partially fermenting in stainless steel, amphora and barrique results in a wine defined by a characterful bouquet rich in floral and fruity aromas, orange peel and typical Mediterranean scrub. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot-based ‘Cassiopea’ Rosato is a deliciously fruity rosé, softly pressed and fermented in stainless steel.
The ‘Mediterra’, a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is a fragrant and intensely fruity red wine. ‘Il Seggio’ is the name of the creek that runs through Bolgheri. The wine that bears its name is a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend aged in 225 litre barriques for 15 months. It is structured, concentrated and fresh. The ‘Sondraia’, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc has a pure cassis note on the nose that gives way to a lovely depth of fruit on the palate. ‘W Dedicato a Walter’ is their pure Cabernet Franc, first produced in 2003. It is lifted yet ripe, intense yet balanced.
Vineyards
Most of the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit for this blend was sourced from the three hectare Via Bolgherese vineyard situated at 56 metres above sea level. Composed of coarse red sand, the soils are rich in gravel, well drained and have a clay layer at a depth of 120 centimetres. The planting density is 9,000 vines per hectare. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and the remaining Cabernet Sauvignon were sourced from the 12 hectare Le Sondraie vineyard situated 35 metres above sea level. These soils are free draining, a mixture of clay and sandy silt, with high levels of magnesium and iron. With a density of 7,936 vines per hectare, the vines are cordon trained and spur pruned. The vines have an average age of 21 years.
Vintage
Autumn and early winter were marked by mild temperatures. The cold weather arrived in January and sharp drops in temperature were seen until May, alongside ideal amounts of rainfall. These long lasting cold temperatures caused some strain on vegetative growth, but careful work in the vineyard enabled the vines to cope throughout this delicate period. Flowering, fruit set, and verasion were balanced overall, helped by light rainfall during the hot summer months. Cool nights and good daytime breezes allowed for perfect ripening. The excellent harvest conditions developed one of the best vintages in 15 years.
Vinification
After destemming and soft pressing to partially rupture the berries, fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 28-30°C for 12-15 days. The wine was transferred to French oak barriques (70% new, 30% second-use) for ageing, during which time malolactic fermentation occurred naturally. After 22 months in barrique and a further nine months in bottle, the wine was released.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Sondraia has quickly become a classic in the Bolgheri area. Perfectly ripe grapes and painstaking work in the cellar yield a wine with intense fresh dark fruit notes complemented by smoky tobacco, herbs and sweet spices. These characteristics follow on to the palate which is silky smooth and profoundly elegant.
Alcohol (ABV)
15%
Acidity
5.55 g/l
Residual Sugar
0.6 g/l
pH
3.65
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poggio al Tesoro | `W Dedicato a Walter` Cabernet Franc | TE202 | R | Factsheet | |
`Solosole` Vermentino | TE203 | W | Factsheet | ||
`Mediterra` | TE204 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Cassiopea` Bolgheri Rosato | TE205 | Ro | Factsheet | ||
`Pagus Camilla` Vermentino | TE208 | W | Factsheet | ||
`Il Seggio` Bolgheri | TE209 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Sondraia` Bianco | TE210 | W | Factsheet |