Poggio al Tesoro, `Il Seggio` Bolgheri

Poggio al Tesoro, `Il Seggio` Bolgheri

Vintage: 2021

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2021TE209B216 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

‘Seggio’ is the name of the creek that runs through Bolgheri - its course from above is represented on the label. This wine is produced from different plots of vineyards in the Poggio al Tesoro estate. The Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in the Via Bolgherese vineyards, at 56 metres above sea level. Here soils are deep, with coarse-grained red sand, that is gravelly and well-drained with a layer of clay four feet below the surface. The other varieties are grown in Le Sondraie vineyard 35 metres above sea level where soils are clayey with well-drained sandy silt and high concentrations of magnesium and iron.

Vintage

The Bolgheri area experienced a long, dry period in 2021 from mid-May until the end of the harvest. The summer was dry, breezy, and warm but not excessively hot. Thanks to the abundant rains during the winter, good water reserves were built up, which helped prevent stress on the vines. The variation in temperature between day and night, especially at the beginning of September, enabled the grapes to maintain acidity and helped to preserve their aromatic components. We can consider 2021 a good vintage, characterized by wines that are fresh and mineral and simultaneously full-bodied with elegant tannins and excellent persistence.

Vinification

Following destemming and gentle pressing, fermentation took place for 20/25 days in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks at 28-30°C. The wine was then aged for 15 months in 225 litre French oak barriques from Allier (30% new, 70% second fill) during which malolactic fermentation occurred naturally.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This wine is intense ruby red in colour with aromas of fresh red berries and dark fruit nuances enriched with mineral and spicy layers. The red fruit characters follows onto the complex palate that combines elegant silky tannins and a lively clean finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

14.5%

Acidity

5.45 g/l

Residual Sugar

1.2 g/l

pH

3.61