Argentiera
Bolgheri Rosso Superiore 2023
| Denomination | DOC Bolgheri Rosso Superiore |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Area | Tuscany (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 48% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc |
| Aging | Aged for 14–16 months in barriques, tonneaux and large oak casks, followed by 12 months in the bottle |
- Provenance: Still red from the Tuscan coast, Bolgheri Superiore DOC
- Grapes: Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
- Aromatic characteristics: Notes of blackberry and blackcurrant, black tea, cured tobacco and sweet spices
- Winemaking: 25-day maceration in stainless steel or concrete, 14–16 months ageing in oak
- Structure and awards: 14% alcohol, elegant tannins, smoky finish; 96 points from James Suckling
Description
What type of wine it is
Bolgheri Rosso Superiore Argentiera is a red wine from Tuscany with a refined profile, fermented in steel and cement and aged in oak barrels, an authentic expression of Bolgheri Superiore. It is created from a careful grape blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. To the eye, it presents a bright ruby colour, which anticipates a full-bodied sip, supported by smooth tannins and a vibrant acidity. The aromatic bouquet weaves scents of blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant with notes of black tea, tobacco and sweet spices. The finish, long and persistent, offers elegant smoky nuances and an intensity awarded 96 points by James Suckling.
Where it comes from
This red originates in Tuscany at Argentiera, a name that recalls the ancient silver mines of the Etruscan era. The vineyards extend along the Tyrrhenian coast, reaching altitudes between 150 and 205 metres, among the highest in the area. The excellent exposure, mitigated by constant sea breezes and significant sun exposure, promotes perfect phenolic ripening. The soils vary from marls to argillites, with intercalations of sandstone and siliceous rocks, giving the wine a deep structure and a complex minerality.
How it is produced
Production begins with a rigorous manual harvest, followed by a careful selection of the bunches. Alcoholic fermentation and maceration take place in stainless steel and cement tanks at a controlled temperature for approximately twenty-five days, ensuring optimal extraction of colour and structure. After malolactic fermentation, ageing continues for approximately fourteen to sixteen months in oak barrels, before concluding with a long rest in the bottle which enhances its precision and excellent ageing potential.
History and interesting facts
The name of this iconic wine evokes the ancient Etruscan silver mines that once stood within the estate. The excellent 2023 vintage, characterised by a balanced climate and refreshed by the providential August rains, ensured an impeccable phenolic ripening of the grapes. The result of a meticulous manual harvest in vineyards extending up to two hundred metres in altitude, this pearl of Bolgheri expresses an extraordinary structural elegance, awarded no fewer than 96 points by James Suckling.
Awards
-
2023
96/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1999
- Oenologist: Nicolò Carrara
- Bottles produced: 480.000
- Hectares: 85
The name Argentiera derives from ancient silver mines, whose traces are preserved by the history ’s pen since the Etruscans. The Etruscan civilisation developed the peninsula’s first metallurgy, and their far-trading ships brought the art of metalworking to the remote corners of the flourishing archaic Greek settlements.
The estate extends over 153 hectares and embraces a one-of-a-kind biodiversity, a fundamentally important biological mosaic that allows the vineyards to flourish to their optimum extent, protected from insects, harmful animals, and climate-change stress. Read more
| Name | Argentiera Bolgheri Rosso Superiore 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Bolgheri DOC |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 48% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Vendor | Argentiera |
| Story | History and interesting facts The name of this iconic wine evokes the ancient Etruscan silver mines that once stood within the estate. The excellent 2023 vintage, characterised by a balanced climate and refreshed by the providential August rains, ensured an impeccable phenolic ripening of the grapes. The result of a meticulous manual harvest in vineyards extending up to two hundred metres in altitude, this pearl of Bolgheri expresses an extraordinary structural elegance, awarded no fewer than 96 points by James Suckling. |
| Origin | Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy (vineyards near the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline) |
| Climate | Very hot climate with irregular rainfall, mitigated by sea breezes and the rainfall at the end of August. |
| Soil composition | Marls and mudstones with intercalations of sandstones and siliceous rocks |
| Plants per hectare | Seven thousand five hundred |
| Yield per hectare | 60 quintals per hectare |
| Harvest | From the beginning of September to the end of September or early October, concluding on 6 October. |
| Fermentation temperature | 28–30 °C |
| Fermentation | 25 days |
| Production technique | Manual harvest; alcoholic fermentation and maceration for 25 days at a controlled temperature (28–30 °C) in stainless steel and concrete tanks; malolactic fermentation in the same tanks; ageing for 14–16 months in barriques, tonneaux and large oak casks, followed by 12 months in the bottle. |
| Wine making | Manual harvest; alcoholic fermentation and maceration for 25 days at a controlled temperature (28–30 °C) in stainless steel and concrete vats; malolactic fermentation in the same vats; ageing for 14–16 months in barriques, tonneaux and large oak casks, followed by 12 months in the bottle. |
| Aging | Aged for 14–16 months in barriques, tonneaux and large oak casks, followed by 12 months in the bottle |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |