Tasting Notes
Climate
The 2018 vintage was, in general, a fresh one distinguished by occasional light precipitation capable of correctly favoring the cycle of the vine. The month of January was mild and with little rainfall, while the end of February and the beginning of March were marked by lower than average temperatures and snow followed by above average rains which contributed to re-balancing the supply of ground water in the soil. The regular rainfall of late spring slightly slowed the phase of the growth of the berries. The climate, warm on the whole, was characterized from July on and during the entire month of August by excellent temperature swings between daytime warmth and evening and nighttime coolness which favored a gradual and continuous ripening of the crop. The picking of the Chardonnay for the Cervaro della Sala began with healthy grapes during the last ten days of August, ripe and with a high-level aromatic profile, while the harvest of the Grechetto took place some fifteen days later.
Vinification
The castle’s fermentation cellars were constructed to take full advantage of the principle of gravity and assists the movement of the grapes and their maceration without the crop being pumped or subjected to mechanical movement of the mass. The picking of the grapes takes place during the very first hours of the day so that the cellars receive fruit in pristine condition, without the influence of the higher and warmer temperatures of the day. The must is treated to a maceration on its skins for four hours at a temperature of 50 °Fahrenheit (10 °Centigrade) and subsequently falls into stainless steel fermentation tanks where it loses its impurities before going into small oak barrels. Here it fully ferments and then is put through a complete malolactic fermentation. After five months of aging, the Chardonnay is usually ready to be blended and to go back into stainless steel, where it is assembled with the Grechetto, which has been fermented, separately, on its own, without contact with wood. The Cervaro della Sala is then aged in bottle for various months in the Castello della Sala cellars before being placed on the market.
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 2018 Cervaro della Sala is a luminous straw yellow in color streaked with occasional greenish highlights. The nose shows light toasted notes accompanied by aromas of citrus fruit, tropical fruit, and hints of butter. The palate is notably savory and fresh, con characteristics of chamomile, white fruit, and flint along with a pleasurable persistence and tasting depth. Its youth, although already inviting and enjoyable, announces much capacity for aging. The wine, still quite young, will evolve in an optimal fashion in the years to come.
Awards
Wine Advocate 96/100 USA
Climate
The 2018 vintage was, in general, a fresh one distinguished by occasional light precipitation capable of correctly favoring the cycle of the vine. The month of January was mild and with little rainfall, while the end of February and the beginning of March were marked by lower than average temperatures and snow followed by above average rains which contributed to re-balancing the supply of ground water in the soil. The regular rainfall of late spring slightly slowed the phase of the growth of the berries. The climate, warm on the whole, was characterized from July on and during the entire month of August by excellent temperature swings between daytime warmth and evening and nighttime coolness which favored a gradual and continuous ripening of the crop. The picking of the Chardonnay for the Cervaro della Sala began with healthy grapes during the last ten days of August, ripe and with a high-level aromatic profile, while the harvest of the Grechetto took place some fifteen days later.
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
