Poggio al Tesoro - Bolgheri Superiore 'Sondraia' 2021

Poggio al Tesoro began with Marilisa Allegrini and her brother Walter’s desire to explore beyond their native Valpolicella, where their family had established its reputation in wine. In 2001, the siblings traveled through Tuscany searching for land that offered a new challenge. Bolgheri captured their imagination: its proximity to the sea, varied soils, and potential for red wines of character and elegance convinced them to put down roots on the Tuscan coast.

Their first purchase was an 11-hectare property near Le Sondraie, followed by a farm surrounding the little church of San Giuseppe and another property along the Strada Bolgherese. The latter included Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc planted in 1994, providing mature vines for the estate’s earliest wines. The project formally became Poggio al Tesoro on April 29, 2002, with its first vintage following in 2003. That year also brought the unexpected loss of Walter, whose vision had helped bring the estate to life. 

Today, Marilisa and her daughters, Carlotta and Caterina, guide the estate. Walter’s legacy remains central to its identity, most visibly through Dedicato a Walter, a wine made entirely from Cabernet Franc and created in his honor. Together with Sondraia, it was among the estate’s first releases, introduced to the market in 2005. 

Located in Bolgheri on Tuscany’s western coast, the estate benefits from Mediterranean sunlight, cooling sea breezes, and hills that shelter its eastern side. Its vineyards occupy four distinct areas: Via Bolgherese, Chiesina di San Giuseppe, Le Sondraie, and Valle di Cerbaia, the last situated in neighboring Bibbona. These sites offer different soils, exposures, and growing conditions—from limestone- and iron-rich ground near San Giuseppe to the varied soils of Le Sondraie—allowing the family to match grape varieties to individual parcels.

First produced in 2003, Sondraia is the estate’s flagship blend, selected from its Via Bolgherese and Le Sondraie vineyards. The 2021 combines 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel, followed by 22 months in French oak barriques, 70% new. The estate describes 2021 as an especially successful vintage, with healthy fruit, preserved acidity, and the structure for extended aging.

"The Poggio al Tesoro 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from one of the most consistent quality producers on the Tuscan Coast. This is a lovely wine from an epic vintage that promises both elegance and power. This wine delivers those qualities and also showcases the generous, sunshine-drenched character of its geographic region. There are thick layers of dark blackberry fruit and crushed graphite, and the wine also offers sweet vanilla spice from the oak. These flavors have the latitude for good integration with a few more years of bottle age. This is a release of 45,000 bottles." - 95 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Poggio al Tesoro

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Cabernet Franc

Appellation: Bolgheri Superiore

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml