Bolgheri Superiore DOC “Dedicato a Walter” 2016 – Poggio al Tesoro

To produce the Bolgheri Superiore DOC “Dedicato a Walter” Poggio al Tesoro, after de-stemming and soft pressing to partially break the berries, fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at 28-30°C for 15 days with a further 25-30 days skin contact. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in barriques at 22°C during the month of November. The wine was aged in 100% new French oak barriques for 24 months before bottling.

This wine is produced from just two rows of vines covering three hectares in the single vineyard “Soprastrada” in the prestigious Via Bolgherese. The vineyard faces west/south-west, situated just 56 metres above sea level, with coarse red sandstone and a layer of deep compact clay, rich in minerals. The vines planted in 1994 are spur-cordon trained, planted at 9,000 vines per hectare. The wine is named after Walter Allegrini, the late brother of Marilisa and Franco.

Poggio al Tesoro is a 70 hectare property in Bolgheri acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family. It is 50 hectares in size and is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Vermentino. All of the Poggio al Tesoro vineyards are located “soprastrada”, the area to the east of the Bolgherese road that is considered the best spot in Bolgheri. Soils here are complex and varied thanks to minerals brought through centuries by the Seggio stream from the nearby hillsides. A careful mapping of the soil has allowed Allegrini to plant the best variety for each plot. This attention to details continues today with a sustainable and organic approach in the vineyard and mini – vinifications in the winery, where different vessels and techniques are used in order to get the best out of each variety and each plot. This approach is evident when tasting the wines: every year the quality is improving and the wines express the uniqueness of the Bolgheri territory.