Poggio al Tesoro, `Sondraia` Bianco

Poggio al Tesoro, `Sondraia` Bianco

Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020TE210B206 x 75Natural CorkAvailable
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

The fruit for this wine was sourced from the 12 hectare Le Sondraie vineyard situated 25 metres above sea level in the “Soprastrada” area of Bolgheri in the village of Castagneto Carducci. Here soils are free draining, a mixture of clay and sandy silt, with high levels of magnesium and iron. With a density of 8,000 vines per hectare, the vines are Guyot trained and have an average age of 13 years.

Vintage

The seasonal development of the 2020 vintage in Bolgheri was quite well-balanced, apart from a few cold nights at the end of March when the temperature dropped below zero. The rest of spring was beautiful and sunny with some rain at the right times, thereby guaranteeing correct vegetative development with uniform flowering and fruit set. The month of June saw very few rainy days, except for some rainfall during the first week which protected the vines from drought stress, something that must be avoided during the ripening phase. Towards the end of August, the summer temperatures gradually began to drop, making it possible to continue the harvest. A sunny, warm September with marked differences in day- and night-time temperatures – typical of the area – accompanied us for the rest of the harvest.

Vinification

Grapes were harvested during the night to preserve the freshness and acidity levels. Once at the winery, the grapes are cooled before undergoing soft pressing. Fermentation took place with skin contact in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks at 14-16 ̊C for 12 days. Towards the end of the fermentation process the wine is moved to complete the fermentation in stainless-steel vats, terracotta amphorae and French oak barrels. No Malolactic fermentation occurred. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels (30%), amphora (20%) and stainless steel vats (50%) on fine lees with battonage until August of the following year. At the end of the ageing process the wine is blended in stainless steel talks, where it rests for a few months before bottling. The wine is then aged in bottle for another 12 months before release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This 100% Viogner is round, intense and smooth. With a golden yellow colour, it reveals a captivating aromatic profile, characterized by delicate floral hints followed by stronger citrus notes such as orange peel and essential oils. On the palate, it reveals its important texture, with sweet tannins well present, supporting a pleasant acidity that results in a persistent finish of great elegance.

Alcohol (ABV)

13.5%

Acidity

5.25 g/l

Residual Sugar

0.8 g/l

pH

3.2