Tasting Notes
Climate
We can define 2010 as, on the whole, a cool vintage; a cold and rainy winter, characterized by frequent drops in temperature, was followed by a period of unstable weather in the spring which lasted until early June. The ample rainfall, in any case, increased the vigor and development of the vine vegetation. During the month of July, the weather was warm and sunny, which assisted the arrival of the color change in the grapes, while August was cooler and slowed the ripening process and delayed the beginning of the harvest by a period of approximately ten days. The return of good weather in September allowed the picking to be organized in optimal conditions, thanks as well as the meticulous work in the vineyard during the period of vine vegetation, something which, particularly in difficult vintages such as 2010, guarantees a quality production and balanced grapes.
Vinification
The grapes for the wine come from 15-20 year old vineyards,located around the Castello della Sala at an altitude between 300 and 400 meters (650-1350 feet) above sea level on soils of the Pliocene epoch, rich in marine fossils and veins of clay. The grapes, harvested during the night, are transported on a refrigerated belt in order to assure low temperatures when destemmed and then pressed. The grape varieties are fermented separately, as they ripen in different periods and also require different cellar practices. The Chardonnay must macerated on its skins for a period of four to six hours at a temperature of approximately 10° centigrade (50° Fahrenheit). The must then went into new, 60 gallon, French (Allier and Tronçais) oak barrels where it fermented for 18 days. The wine remained on its lees in barrel for approximately six months and went through a complete malolactic fermentation during this same period. It was then blended and bottled. A ten month period of bottle aging in the historic Castello della Sala cellars preceded commercial release at 13° alcohol.
Historical Data
The name Cervaro comes from the noble family that owned Castello della Sala during the 14th century, Monaldeschi della Cervara. A blend of Chardonnay grapes and a small quantity of Grechetto make a wine that can age over time and represent the elegance and complexity of this unique estate. Cervaro della Sala is one of the first Italian wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques. The first vintage of Cervaro to be produced was the 1985 vintage.
Tasting Notes
The wine is a straw yellow in color with greenish highlights and expresses intense aromas of white flowers mixed with notes of flint. On the palate, savory mineral sensations blend perfectly with toasty and citric notes. The 2010 Cervaro della Sala is marked by a long persistence and a mineral character and is headed for excellent evolution and aging ability over time.
Awards
Gambero Rosso "Vini d'Italia 2013" Guide Tre Bicchieri Italy Espresso 2013 Guide 18/20 Italy I Vini Di Veronelli 2013 Super Tre Stelle Italy Associazione Italiana Sommelier "Duemilavini 2013" Guide 5 Grappoli Italy Wine Enthusiast 93/100 USA Annuario L. Maroni 90/100 Italy James Suckling 94/100 USA Falstaff 92/100 Austria Antonio Galloni 92/100 USA
Climate
We can define 2010 as, on the whole, a cool vintage; a cold and rainy winter, characterized by frequent drops in temperature, was followed by a period of unstable weather in the spring which lasted until early June. The ample rainfall, in any case, increased the vigor and development of the vine vegetation. During the month of July, the weather was warm and sunny, which assisted the arrival of the color change in the grapes, while August was cooler and slowed the ripening process and delayed the beginning of the harvest by a period of approximately ten days. The return of good weather in September allowed the picking to be organized in optimal conditions, thanks as well as the meticulous work in the vineyard during the period of vine vegetation, something which, particularly in difficult vintages such as 2010, guarantees a quality production and balanced grapes.
The History
Back in 1928, Niccolò Antinori decided to christen this wine Villa Antinori, in honor of the family’s eponymous villa; it was a reflection of his own personal interpretation of Chianti Classico’s and Tuscany’s unique identity.
The Style
Villa Antinori was first crafted in 1928 by Marchese Niccolò Antinori, Piero Antinori’s father, as the Antinori family’s signature wine; an exceptional wine that can represent the family’s history, identity and continuity like no other. “Villa Antinori is a full-blooded Tuscan red […] which grapes are grown, mature and are harvested from our Tuscan estates and then fermented and aged in the Antinori family estates.” Piero Antinori.
The design
The label’s design represents our concept of home, our territory and Tuscany. “The French have châteaux, but we have Villas!” Niccolò Antinori cheerfully explained his choice for the illustration on the front label, an innovative design that broke with more traditional packaging conventions of that time.
In Honor of the Monaldeschi della Cervara Family
The wine’s name honors the Monaldeschi della Cervara family who was the historic owner of Castello della Sala in the XVI century.
An old railway station
The Vignaferrovia vineyard takes its name from a characteristic old nineteenth century railway station still located a short distance from the vines.
Grown in an area with Great Potential
Poggio alle Nane comes from a winegrowing area well known for its production of high quality wines, an area in which both Cabernet and Carménère best express their characteristics.
A red amidst whites
At Castello della Sala, an area historically important for white wines, Pinot Nero offers an authentic and typical expression of its variety with a strong territorial character.
An ancient grape variety
Aleatico, an old and traditional Tuscan grape variety grown since Etruscan times, is able to give a modern expression of itself in this unique territory.
Villa del Cigliano
Villa del Cigliano, located in the gently rolling hillsides of San Casciano Val di Pesa, in the province of Florence, has always been a symbol of strong family relationships; the villa has watched over the lives of generations of Antinori family members since 1546, the year Alessandro di Niccolò Antinori became the owner of the property.
The Design
The label was designed by Silvio Coppola in 1974 for the release of Tignanello 1971. The idea to commission this artist was discussed at an event at Castello della Sala in 1973. Silvio Coppola was an important Italian graphic and interior designer who was famous for his minimalist lighting fixtures and austere furniture but also for book cover designs for Italian publishing company Feltrinelli. Silvio Coppola was the perfect match for the job.
The Bolgheri Amphitheater
The Guado al Tasso estate’s most characteristic geographic feature is the Bolgheri Amphitheater, a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides that faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. The shape of the territory creates a unique microclimate with beneficial temperature fluctuations. The estate’s vineyards are located at the foot of the amphitheater, an optimal position as cold nocturnal breezes cool down the vines. These particular climatic conditions give the grapes pronounced aromas and guarantee a perfect ripening of the berries.
The Barrique
Cervaro della Sala was one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques.
The Name
Poggio alle Nane’s name comes from the area where its vines grow. Duck breeding farms once existed and the name “Nane” is local dialect for duck. The vineyards extend from the hillside to the lake that are still part of the property.
Rocky soils
The Vignaferrovia vineyard grows on rocky, gravelly soils, a condition that naturally limits the grapevine’s growth rate and enhances the quality of the berries.
Winding vineyards
The 4 hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero grow along the hillsides shaping the landscape into a series of sinuous terraced vineyards.
A single letter symbol
“A” represents in one single letter the combination of the estate’s initials, Fattoria Aldobrandesca, and the grape’s variety, Aleatico.
The Signature
Marchese Piero Antinori, the current Honorary President, decided to have his father, Niccolò Antinori, sign the label as a sign of recognition for his father’s confidence in him.
Te Duce Proficio
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules.
The Concept
The idea behind Cervaro della Sala was to craft a white wine able to age over time.
Sea breezes
Southwestern vineyard exposure allows sea breezes to mitigate hot summer temperatures and limit heat spikes.
Understanding nature
The particularly hot climate of Castello della Sala has forced agronomists to invent new ways to protect the grapes from the hot summer sun. The vines’ shoots are allowed to grow in length and are then folded over the plant so its leaves can shade the Pinot Nero grape clusters.
A Pursuit for Balance
“A” was crafted following the family’s pursuit for exceptional balance between Aleatico’s pronounced character and the unique qualities of the estate’s volcanic soils.
Te Duce Proficio
The historic family crest of the Antinori family
A Tribute to the Della Gherardesca Family
Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
The Enologist
In 1985, Renzo Cotarella, who was chief enologist at Castello della Sala at that time, made the first vintage of Cervaro della Sala.
A personal interpretation
The Antinori family wanted to give their own deeply personal interpretation of the historic wine, Brunello di Montalcino.
The Sun
Tignanello’s stylized “Sun” by Silvio Coppola
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
