Bolgheri is the hot spot for the so-called ‘Super Tuscans’ and this one from the Allegrini family, renowned for its success in the Veneto region of northern Italy, is a shining example of what can be accomplished with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in this corner of Tuscany. A suave red packed with ripe cassis, blackberry and plum fruit, Sondraia is a magnificent expression of these classic Bordeaux grape varieties. They’ve thrived in Italy for years, but only over the past couple of decades have they come to be accepted alongside the traditional money grape of Tuscany, Sangiovese. Sondraia 2011 is beautifully balanced, exqisitely structured, and destined for a long life.
Poggio al Tesoro, Bolgheri DOC Superiore (Tuscany, Italy) 2011
By Robert Whitley