Allegrini, `La Grola`
Vintage: 2021
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | AL204B21 | 6 x 75 | Agglomerated Cork | Available |
2021 | AL204M21 | 6 x 150 | Natural Cork | Not Yet Available |
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
La Grola was bought by Allegrini in 1979. Located at 310 metres above sea level. These 30 hectare vineyard has a south-easterly aspect, well-drained calcareous and clay soils and vines planted from 1979-1998. The vines are double Guyot trained at a density of 4,240 vines per hectare.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage was exceptional. Spring was marked by moderate rainfall with cool temperatures that led to reduced flower set, and therefore to the production of bunches with less berries than usual. Ripening started very late compared to the last 10 years: the sunny weather, not too hot during the day and cool at night, allowed the vines to recover much of the delay, and by the 20th September the ripening was in line with past years. The season finished with no rain in the last 40 days of ripening, and dry, cool and breezy nights which ensured good acidity levels in the berries. The combination of a cool and dry climate and healthy grapes meant grapes were picked at the optimum level of aromatic and phenolic ripeness and acidity levels.
Vinification
The grapes were hand picked, destemmed and gently crushed before fermentation took place, in stainless-steel tanks. Maceration lasted for 15 days at temperatures between 20-28°C during which pumping overs took place daily. Malolactic fermentation took place naturally in barriques in October. The wine was aged for 16 months in oak, then blended for two months. The wine was then matured in bottle for 10 months before release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
La Grola is a full bodied, intense and elegant wine. Dark, ruby red in colour, it has aromas of wild berries, juniper, tobacco and coffee essence. The high plant density and resulting low yields give this wine its unique concentration.
Alcohol (ABV)
14%
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allegrini | Valpolicella | AL201 | R | Factsheet | |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico | AL202 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Palazzo della Torre` | AL203 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Giovanni Allegrini` Recioto Classico | AL206 | Sw | Factsheet | ||
Lugana | AL216 | W | Factsheet |