Description

The 2020 vintage of Soldera 100% Sangiovese IGT continues the legacy of Case Basse under the stewardship of the Soldera family, led by Monica Soldera, her husband Gianpaolo Franco, and her brother Mauro. This is the second vintage produced entirely after the passing of Gianfranco Soldera, yet the guiding principles—biodiversity, extreme selection, and non-interventionist winemaking—remain resolutely intact. From 10 hectares of southwest-facing vines rooted in schistic galestro and marine fossil soils, the 2020 reflects the purity and transparency of this singular site just outside Montalcino. Fermentation occurred spontaneously in large Slavonian oak botti using native yeasts isolated and studied by the family annually. Aged for nearly four years in old oak casks, the wine was recently bottled at the estate.

Tasted from a 65-hectoliter cask, the 2020 Sangiovese is plush and fruity at this stage, although it’s starting to reveal its mineral underpinnings, with dark blackberry notes, graphite, and violets. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a velvety texture, with ripe and refined tannins, a good deal of meaty richness through the mid-palate, and a seamless structure. There’s both purity and refinement across each of the samples tasted. The 2020 showed a good deal of completeness already prior to bottling and I expect it will have a good deal of cellaring potential. (AF) 96-99 POINTS Jeb Dunnuck

Deep, rich ruby red colour. Intoxicating nose with clearly perceptible and exotic herbal spice, wonderfully layered with hints of mint, sandalwood and young leather. Lively, vibrant dark red cherry flavours paired with fine, original grape sweetness on the palate, always with a precision and structure that is rarely found in a glass. Its purity, vibrancy and deeply impressive personality are revealed with every dramatic sip. Rarely has a Sangiovese made us so reverent. It has everything that makes a perfect wine! SUPERIORE.DE

Readers should note that following his most recent disagreement with the Consorzio, which included, among other things, being kicked out of the Consorzio, Soldera has decided to release all of his new wines as Toscana Sangiovese. These are the same wines that would have previously been released as Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. As always, these remain some of the most compelling and transcendental wines being made anywhere in the world. Antonio Galloni, Vinous    

Once or twice a year my tasting group gathers to survey a collection of wines from Gianfranco Soldera. These tastings are always unforgettable, as Soldera’s Brunellos have the rare ability to captivate all the senses with their profound, riveting beauty. Antonio Galloni, Vinous