Tenuta Meraviglia, Bolgheri Rosso
Vintage: 2021
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | TM301B21 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
Producer
Tenuta Meraviglia comprises 30 hectares of vineyards at the southernmost end of the Bolgheri denomination. Planted primarily with Cabernet Franc, these certified organic vines are on an impressive plateau at 150 metres above sea level, surrounded by woodlands and boasting a splendid view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Tuscan Archipelago and Corsica. The soils here are of volcanic origin, containing an abundance of rhyolite, a rock used extensively in the past for buildings. Just below the plateau is a disused quarry, that once contained rhyolite, currently hidden by a dense forest. Plans are afoot to use it to house the new winery that Tenuta Meraviglia are planning to build.
The estate was purchased in 2016 by Alejandro Bulgheroni and is run by the same team that has made such a success of his Dievole estate in Chianti. Lorenzo Bernini oversees viticulture and winemaking, working alongside renowned winemaker and consultant Alberto Antonini. The Tenuta Meraviglia wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement and aged in large, untoasted French oak barrels to best express their vineyards. This is an unconventional approach in Bolgheri, where winemakers have historically favoured a higher percentage of new oak and smaller barrel formats (notably barrique).
The two wines we list are made solely from Cabernet Franc, which thrives at this estate. The Bolgheri Rosso is fermented in cement tanks, followed by a short period ageing in large French oak. It is beautifully expressive with strong varietal character and impressive purity. The ‘Maestro di Cava’ is made from a selection of the estate’s best Cabernet Franc. Released later, after a longer period of oak ageing, it has a lovely tobacco leaf character typical of the best wines made from this variety in Bolgheri. Both wines are clear signs that a new star is rising in this famed region.
Vineyards
The grapes for the Bolgheri Rosso come from 30 hectares of organically farmed vineyards at 150 metres above sea level, with a south-west exposure toward the coast that benefits from cooling sea breezes. The soils are of volcanic origin, rich in minerals and stones. The wine is produced from a selection of vines aged 5 to 20 years, all trained using the Guyot system.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage began with a wet, mild winter, followed by cold conditions in early spring. A frost in April affected budburst, and below-average temperatures with dry weather persisted until late May. Summer then brought above-average heat and very little rainfall, aside from a few showers at the end of July. Thanks to careful soil management, water stress was kept under control, allowing for excellent phenolic ripening and perfectly healthy grapes.
Vinification
Fermentation occurred naturally in truncated tapered unrefined concrete vats with natural yeasts at a controlled temperature between 26-28°C. After about two weeks of fermentation, the wine was racked into large, untoasted French oak barrels, where it remained for 12 months prior to bottling. It was then kept in the bottle for three months before release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Ruby red in colour, this wine displays expressive aromas of red fruits followed by deep mineral notes. On the palate it is fresh, pleasantly savoury with concentrated ripe black fruit flavours and well-integrated tannins.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.36 g/l
Residual Sugar
1 g/l
pH
3.51
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenuta Meraviglia | `Maestro di Cava` Bolgheri Superiore | TM302 | R | Factsheet |