Solosole 2022 – Poggio Al Tesoro.
When thinking about Bolgheri most wine lovers will imagine beautiful Bordeaux style reds, the beloved Super Tuscans. But the regions location near to the sea, and the soil diversity, offer a great opportunity to make white wines as well. Something that is happening more and more, with great whites being made from Viognier or Italy’s favorite Vermentino.
As part of our Journey through Tuscany we share a beautiful example of a Vermentino wine with you, produced by Poggio Al Tesoro; the 2022 Solosole.
About the Region
The winemaking history of Bolgheri goes way back, and started with a history of strict viticultural traditions, with Sangiovese as the main grape to be grown here (like in many other parts of Tuscany). It was not until the late 20th century that Bolgheri became more and more well known as an Italian quality wine region.
It started in 1960’s when a group of innovative winemakers recognized the potential of this region. Very controversially they set aside the Tuscany traditions. Knowing it would lead to discussions, they started to grow Bordeaux grape varieties, such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. We know now that their perseverance has paid off. The big turning point for the Bolgheri region was in 1968, with the release of Sassicaia. The success of Sassicaia paved the way for Bolgheri to be recognized as a DOC in 1994.
About the Winery
Poggio Al Tesoro is owned by the Allegrini family. Originally from the Valpolicella region, where Giovanni Allegrini made great success, being recognized as one of the most important persons in the history of the Valpolicella region. After passing away in 1983, his children inherited the company. His daughter Marilisa, now the CEO of the Allegrini group, took the baton together with her brothers and has built the Allegrini brand into what it is now. Her daughters Carlotta and Caterina now work alongside their mother in Poggio Al Tesoro and the company’s other Tuscan estate; San Polo in Montalcino.
In 2001 Marilisa and her brother Walter fell in love with the Bolgheri region, while searching for something extraordinary. They bought three separate plots, of which one already had Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This allowed them to found the Poggio Al Tesoro in 2002, as they could start to make wine immediately. In 2004 they added a Vermentino clone from Corsica to their vineyards.
Years and years of creating beautiful wines passed by, adding strict quality rules to make sure the wines are not only of high quality, but also made in a sustainable way. Now 20 years since getting the first hectares, they are now ‘Equalitas’ certified and own 63 hectares of vineyards within Bolgheri.
About the Grape
Vermentino is a white grape variety that thrives in Mediterranean climates and is known for producing crisp, aromatic, and vibrant wines. In Bolgheri, Vermentino grapes benefit from being close to the sea in combination with the Mediterranean climate. The maritime influence brings cool breezes that temper the hot summers, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually and keep their acidity. This creates crispness and complexity in Bolgheri Vermentino wines.
About the Wine
The Poggio Al Tesoro Vermentino grapes for this wine grow in vineyards located in Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci and Livorno. The grapes are a Vermentino clone from a Corsica, first planted in 2004. The location of the vineyards, being close to the sea in a warm climate, unlock the great potential of the Vermentino grape.
After being harvested manually during the night, the grapes are softly pressed, then added to stainless steel tanks to be able to control the temperature during fermentation. After fermentation the wine will age on the lee for another month within stainless steel tanks before it is bottled.
In the glass you will find a light straw yellow wine. Clean with a medium intensity in the nose. Freshness and fruitiness open up your senses. On the palette a Vermentino that is medium bodied, fresh, crispy, with a nice balance of fruitiness, minerality and acidity. It is a delicate wine, with aromas of white flowers and yellow fruit. Solosole is juicy, fresh and gives you a small tingle on your tongue.
We can imagine that this is exactly the extraordinary wine that Marilisa was aiming for when planting these Vermentino grapes in their vineyard!
Conclusion
‘Solosole’ is Italian for ‘Only the sun’. And that is exactly what this wine is. Drinking this wine takes your imagination to Tuscany immediately. On an Italian summer night, looking at the sunset, cooling down for the night, this is the wine that you need. Juicy, Fresh and Crispy. Closing off the day getting ready for the next.
We see a bright future for Vermentino in Bolgheri, and not only for the grape but also for this excellent wine. White wine might not be the first thing you think about when Bolgheri comes to mind, but we urge you to try more of them. Starting with this beautiful Vermentino.
We award this sun kissed white beauty with a 91-point DWA score.
Tuscany, a Journey through Five Lenses
This review is part of our project “Tuscany, a Journey through Five Lenses”. In this project we travel through one of the most exciting parts of Italy and show its different faces interpreted through leading wineries. We do this through wine reviews, background articles and interviews.
The regions we discuss are Tuscany IGP, Chianti, Bolgheri, Montepulciano and Montalcino. Poggio Al Tesoro is our guide through the Bolgheri appellation.
To stay updated about this special project subscribe to our newsletter, by clicking here. More information about the project can be found here.
Other wines by Poggio Al Tesoro we are going to review:
This wine is reviewed by our own Michelle van de Vosse.
Price: €22
Taste date: July 2023
Score: 91/100 DWA Score
Website: Poggio Al Tesoro