Tucked in Tuscany’s southern shoreline is Tenuta Argentiera in Bolgheri. Throughout a digital studying and tasting expertise of 4 of their wines (despatched as samples) with winemaker Nicolò Carrara, wine journalists had been reminded but once more that our favourite beverage is usually a magnificent reflection of the area wherein the grapes are cultivated. We swirled and sipped 5 wines from 4 distinctive vineyards to know simply that. 5 wines with 4 identities? They’re discovered at Argentiera.
Photograph Credit score: Argentiera
This extremely acclaimed vineyard of 1236 acres (500 hectares) is situated on a plateau just one.5 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea and at an altitude of 656 toes. The altitude helps to make sure an optimum microclimate whereby sea breezes deter pests and mildew illnesses on the vines. Surrounded by forests, Carrara remarked that “we’re between the ocean and nature. Forests defend the world and streams help with drainage. There’s a range of farming at Argentiera.” Soils, too, vary from sand within the decrease areas to limestone, clay, and rocks at excessive altitudes. “Now we have a powerful connection to the situation,” he added. “Wines are contemporary and balanced with minerality and salinity. It is a particular place to develop vines. It’s a particular place for me.”
Photograph Credit score: Argentiera
Argentiera produces top quality wines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Vermentino and others with the Bolgheri DOC and Toscana IGT classifications. From winery to bottle, every part is completed by hand with minimal intervention. The objective is to supply wines which can be elegant, balanced, drinkable and naturally, memorable. To place our palates to the take a look at, we started exploring 5 wines.
Our first wine was 2022 Villa Donoratico Bolgheri DOC. The winery identify pays homage to the Serristori household who owned Donoratico in 1512 and constructed a villa on the property. A mix of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot aged in 3000 litre casks, I discovered an extremely contemporary wine on each the nostril and palate. Aromas of spice, brilliant purple fruit, currants, plums and even dried rose petals had been pretty. The spherical palate boasted notes of flint, extra purple fruit, medium physique, reasonable acidity and gentle tannins. Such a stunning, meals pleasant wine, this was a pleasure to sip.
2022 Poggio ai Ginepri Toscana IGT was the primary wine produced in Argentiera in 2002. From sandy areas inside the parcels, 200,000 bottles are produced per yr. The mix of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot was lush and balanced.The wine spent 8-9 months in wooden then concrete and stainless tanks to keep up freshness. Wafting from the glass had been notes of darkish purple berries, juicy plums, spice, and dried florals. The palate instructed flavors of pomegranate, blueberries, cranberries and spice resulting in a mouthwatering end.
Cultivated in vineyards on the upper a part of the property is 2022 Argentiera Bolgheri DOC Superiore, an excellent mix of 46% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Soils are marl and shale with sandstone and siliceous rocks. Carrera shared that the “Merlot offers the wine vitality. It has stunning tannins and texture.” And he’s right. I famous brilliant aromas or purple berries and a touch of baking spice. Gentle and contemporary on the palate with medium physique and a spherical mouthfeel, white pepper and loads of black fruit helped create a simple ingesting wine with a wide range of meals from pizza and pasta to steak and lamb. 2022 Argentiera was aged for 14-16 months in 225-litre French oak barrels then for 12 months within the bottle earlier than launch.
From a heat classic, 2021 Argentiera Bolgheri DOC Superiore gives a wealthy and concentrated mix of 48% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and seven% Cabernet Franc. First produced in 2003, that is “the venture that gave life to every part. We needed to create a wine with the ambition of representing Bolgheri excellence on this planet. It’s a recent image of Italian oenology.” Grown in vineyards at 500-650 toes above sea stage on marl and shale with sandstone and rocks, the wine was aged for 14-16 months in 225-litre French oak barrels and bottle aged for one more 12 months. Completely vibrant from starting to finish, aromas of wealthy purple fruit, plums, and brilliant spice had been mesmerizing. Balanced with reasonable tannins and acidity, this structured, layered wine supplied a palate rife with notes of lush purple berries, cranberries, savory mushrooms and crushed blueberries. The end lingered with unparalleled magnificence. What a present stopper!
In true Italian type, our final wine was a palate refresher within the type of 2023 State of affairs Bolgheri DOC Bianco of 100% Vermentino. From small vineyards situated close to the forests across the seaside villa space on prime of a hill of 260 toes above sea stage, solely 8000 bottles per yr are produced. Carrara feels that it is a “advantageous, wealthy model of Vermentino that may age one other 10 years” and I need to agree. Recent with aromas and flavors of inexperienced grass, florals, herbs, stone fruit, and snappy acidity, this wine is a go-to with seafood and light-weight pasta dishes or as an aperitif any day of the week. 15% of the Vermentino was aged in oak; the remainder was aged in concrete. Perfection.
“Yearly our wines are higher and higher,” acknowledged Nicolò Carrera. With such a positive setting, Argentiera’s sturdy connection to the situation, and minimal intervention this is sensible. All wines can be found in the USA. Now it’s your flip to style. Get pleasure from!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
Photograph Credit score: Argentiera
