Allegrini, `Palazzo della Torre`

Allegrini, `Palazzo della Torre`

Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020AL203B206 x 75Natural CorkContact Us
2020AL203M206 x 150Natural CorkAvailable
Producer

The Allegrini family estate comprises 120 hectares of vineyard in the heart of Valpolicella Classico. Although the family has grown grapes here for several centuries, Giovanni Allegrini was the first to start bottling wines from the family’s vineyards. When he died in 1983, he passed his passion and commitment to quality winemaking onto his three children, Walter, Marilisa and Franco. Together, they worked to build on Giovanni’s quality ethos until Walter’s death in 2003. Franco looked after the vineyards and winemaking, while Marilisa continued to manage sales and marketing. From the 2007 vintage, Franco sacrificed the Valpolicella Classico classification by bottling the Allegrini wines under Stelvin to eliminate cork taint and reduce oxidation problems. Franco sadly passed away in 2022. He was an inspiring figure who led the way in Valpolicella’s quest for quality, forging a path many others have followed. In 2023, Franco’s sons Francesco, Giovanni and Matteo, alongside their cousin Silvia Allegrini (Walter’s daughter), became custodians of their family’s historic estate.

Allegrini’s Valpolicella has a lovely intensity of red cherry fruit, lifted perfumes and a ripe yet zesty character on the palate. ‘La Grola’, sleek and beguiling, sets the standard by which all other wines from Valpolicella are judged. The ‘Palazzo della Torre’, a ‘baby Amarone’ produced by Allegrini’s modern approach to the ripasso method, is plush and rounded. Their Amarone is outstanding, offering an expression that is intense yet balanced. The ‘Giovanni Allegrini’ Recioto Classico, named after the winery's famous founder, is bursting with fruit and notes of cherry intertwined with pepper and thyme.

In 2018, Allegrini purchased 40 hectares of land in the municipality of Pozzolengo after years of scouting the Lugana area around Lake Garda. They created a Lugana defined by lively acidity, which balances the natural richness of the Turbiana grape. The resulting wine is stylish and elegant, defined by classic floral aromas and hints of almonds.

Vineyards

Palazzo della Torre covers 26 hectares of east-facing vineyards planted between 1962 and 1989, situated at an average altitude of 240 metres above sea level. Vines are trained using the Guyot system and planted at a density of 3,000 vines per hectare. The entire area is terraced by traditional dry-stone walling called ‘marogne’ in local dialect, a highly characteristic example of rural architecture. The subsoil is primarily composed of marly limestone that encourages the concentration of sugars in the grapes while maintaining a good level of acidity.

Vintage

Overall the 2020 vintage was a good year, despite some challenges in neighbouring regions. A few summer showers slowed the ripening process, but the warm temperatures picked up in September, providing an excellent opportunity for the grapes to ripen fully before harvest.

Vinification

Allegrini uses the modern version of the traditional 'ripasso' technique for Palazzo della Torre, drying a proportion of the grapes in the 'Terre di Fumane' drying centre to intensify the character of this vineyard. The fresh grapes were destemmed and pressed immediately after harvest while the dried grapes underwent the same process in the second half of December. Fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks in 2 stages: the first at controlled temperatures of between 25 and 29°C for 10 days, the second at temperatures ranging from 8 to 10°C for 15 days. The wine was then aged in second use barriques for 15 months before being blended and bottled.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

On the nose, this wine reveals distinct notes of berries, aromatic herbs, spices and vanilla. The textured palate is underpinned by sweet, polished tannins that linger on the long and intriguing finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

13.5%

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