Tasting Notes
Climate
The climate of the 2011 growing season was quite unusual. The year began with a dry spell, and in the first two months rainfall was virtually absent. As a partial compensation, the vines already began to bud in late March, earlier than usual, due to the mild temperatures, and in April and May the mercury rose sharply, to the point that the spring of 2011 has gone down as one of the warmest of the last few decades. The vines, on their part, reacted with an early flowering, approximately ten days ahead of schedule. A July of variable and somewhat cool weather, characterized as well by abundant rain,s was highly positive for the vineyard, slowing a ripening process which otherwise might have been too rapid. Thanks to the very favorable conditions of September and October, the noble rot gradually covered the grape skins without risks for the health of the crop, concentrating the berries and increasing their aromatic complexity. Picking began with the Gewürztraminer in late October and then continued with the the Riesling, the Sauvignon, and the Sèmillon, concluding with the Grechetto at the end of November.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested by hand during successive passages through the vineyards aimed at spotting and then picking the berries with noble rot. The grapes were then further selected on a conveyor belt before in the cellar being pressed. After pressing, the must fermented for 18 days at a temperature of approximately 63° Fahrenheit (17° centigrade). The wine which was obtained, still sweet, went into 60 gallon Allier and Tronçais oak barrels, where it remained for approximately six months before being assembled in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.
Historical Data
Muffato della Sala is produced with grapes with “noble rot”, harvested in late October and early November to allow the morning mists to develop of Botrytis Cinerea, or noble rot on the grape berries. This type of mould concentrates the water of the crop, its sugars, and its aromas, endowing the Muffato della Sala with a harmonious and unmistakable fragrance. The first year to be produced was the 1987 and consisted of the blend of varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc (50%); Grechetto (30%) and Drupeggio (20%). The composition of the blend has varied over the years and now has attained its definitive results. Muffato della Sala is a fascinating wine, an expression, in small quantities, of the nature of a unique terroir.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows a luminous and intense golden yellow color. The nose is delicate and elegant with its floral scents, but is dominated by the notes of ripe fruit, apricot and peach, along with hints of citrus fruit accompanied by sensations of minerals and iodine. The palate confirms the timber and character of the nose. A long and balanced wine in which sweetness and freshness fuse in perfect harmony.
Awards
Wine Advocate 94/100 USA
Climate
The climate of the 2011 growing season was quite unusual. The year began with a dry spell, and in the first two months rainfall was virtually absent. As a partial compensation, the vines already began to bud in late March, earlier than usual, due to the mild temperatures, and in April and May the mercury rose sharply, to the point that the spring of 2011 has gone down as one of the warmest of the last few decades. The vines, on their part, reacted with an early flowering, approximately ten days ahead of schedule. A July of variable and somewhat cool weather, characterized as well by abundant rain,s was highly positive for the vineyard, slowing a ripening process which otherwise might have been too rapid. Thanks to the very favorable conditions of September and October, the noble rot gradually covered the grape skins without risks for the health of the crop, concentrating the berries and increasing their aromatic complexity. Picking began with the Gewürztraminer in late October and then continued with the the Riesling, the Sauvignon, and the Sèmillon, concluding with the Grechetto at the end of November.
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
