Allegrini, `La Poja`
Vintage: 2016
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | AL205B16 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Sold Out |
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
Located at the top of Podere La Grola, Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, 320 metres above sea level, the vineyard comprises 2.65 hectares planted in 1979 with a south-east exposure. The soil is well drained, calcareous (78.5% chalk) and stony. Soils are marginally alkaline and combine with the active limestone content to reduce the vines' vigour. The vines are double Guyot trained at a density of approximately 4,240 vines per hectare.
Vintage
Spring saw more rainfall than usual, which meant careful work had to be undertaken in the vineyard to protect the vines. The second half of June gave way to fine weather that continued throughout the summer months, with temperatures not exceeding 35°C. Marked differences in daytime and night-time temperatures, in particular during veraison, and combined with the considerable water reserves accumulated during spring, resulted in an increase in sugar concentration. This helped to maintain acidity and facilitated the development of the specific flavour characteristics of each variety. Finally, a ‘slow’ harvest in ideal weather conditions allowed the grapes to achieve perfect ripening at a gradual pace. Vintage 2016 promises to be one of the best years ever, outstanding for its great balance and elegance.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested at the end of September, destemmed and crushed with maceration lasting 12-15 days with regular, daily pumping over. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks between 22-31ºC with malolactic fermentation occurring naturally in November. The wine was then racked into new oak barriques where it aged for 20 months, followed by eight months in large oak casks. The wine was left to age in the bottle for an additional 10 months.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
After more than four years ageing, the wine is still extraordinarily fresh and crisp with a full spectrum of aromas, ranging from blackcurrant and cherry, to liquorice, vanilla and smoky tobacco notes, which develop on the palate. Full bodied and elegant, framed by taut tannins the wine has a long, lingering finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14.5%
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 | ||
| `La Grola` | AL204 | R | |||
| `Giovanni Allegrini` Recioto Classico | AL206 | Sw | Factsheet | ||
| Grappa di Amarone della Valpolicella | AL207 | G | Factsheet | ||
| Grappa di Recioto | AL208 | G | Factsheet | ||
| `Fieramonte` Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva $ | AL213 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Lugana | AL216 | W | Factsheet |