Toscana

Soldera Case Basse Toscana IGP Sangiovese is a true Italian winemaking gem, with a production that is nothing short of limited and exclusive; suffice it to say that this is the only wine produced by the eponymous winery, and all bottles are numbered. The estate is located in the southwest corner of the Montalcino hillside, a prime area for growing Sangiovese. Its vineyards extend over approximately 10 hectares, nestled in a complex and diverse ecosystem characterized by a highly respected biodiversity. The 2020 vintage was distinguished by dry and mild weather. Specifically, the period between vegetative dormancy and budbreak, which occurred early around March 26th, was characterized by above-average temperatures, with rainfall concentrated primarily in November, unlike the warmest months of January and February. The above-average temperatures, which persisted until May, also affected the full bloom phase, which occurred around the 22nd, also earlier than usual. In the approximately 67 days leading up to veraison, which occurred regularly around July 28th, rainfall was concentrated in the first half of the cool month of June, followed by a prolonged period of dry weather and average temperatures. Rainfall then increased during August, which was characterized by higher than average rainfall, concentrated, however, in just two days at the end of the month. Gradual increases in temperatures and the absence of rainfall characterized the period leading up to the harvest, which, following frequent sampling, in-depth and broad-spectrum analyses, and the necessary tastings, began on September 15th. All operations were concluded by the 20th of the same month, thus highlighting a marked homogeneity in the ripening of the grapes. The Sangiovese bunches are hand-picked and placed in small crates before being transported to the cellar. Several selection processes are carried out in the vineyard, on the sorting table both before and after the grapes pass through the vibrating destemmer, which also selects the most suitable grapes, discarding the others. The must, obtained exclusively from the finest grapes, is transferred to Slavonian oak truncated cone-shaped vats where it ferments spontaneously with native yeasts, thus enriching the wine with sensory complexity. During this constantly monitored process, frequent chemical and microbiological analyses, tastings, and temperature measurements are performed to determine the methods and timing of pumping over. The wine then mellows in flavor following the natural progression of malolactic fermentation, triggered by lactic acid bacteria and completed in approximately two months. The aging process, which includes a long stay in large Slavonian oak barrels, is characterized by numerous and careful tastings, as well as monthly analyses, during which no anomalies were detected this vintage. Finally, the wine is bottled without any pretreatment, clarification, or filtration, and left to rest for an additional six months before being released for sale in spring 2025. When bottled, it was rich in glycerin, a substance that gives it body and smoothness, along with a sulfites level far lower than the regulatory limit. The Soldera Case Basse 2020 Toscana IGP Sangiovese displays a violet-ruby red color in the glass, a prelude to an experience beyond imagination, which will fully repay the long wait.