Bolgheri DiVino second edition

Last year, the Bolgheri Consortium surprised everyone by launching a preview in September, that is, many months in advance of the official release of the wines on the market, aided by the extraordinary dinner on the Avenue of Cypresses (which, however, is biennial). This year the avenue was replaced with the Torre di Donoratico, and the protagonist was always him, the Bolgheri Superiore, presented in the 2020 vintage.

September 2022, the second edition of Bolgheri DiVino; the preview of Bolgheri Superiori, starring the 2020 vintage. The widespread tasting took place between Castello della Gherardesca and Frantoio di casa Carducci in Castagneto Carducci, all wineries present: it is a record for such an event. Despite the rain everything went very well. The technical tasting was excellent, thanks to Fabio Cartei who well directed the sommelier service, with wines at perfect temperature and quick timing.

Fascinating was the bucolic dinner that took place under the tower of Donoratico, symbol of the Della Gherardesca family's power over these areas, often forgotten despite the Dantean mention in the Comedy. In short, yet another great proof of this Consortium masterfully directed by the female triad Albiera Antinori (Guado al Tasso) president, vice-presidents Cinzia Merli (Le Macchiole) and Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta (Tenuta San Guido) assisted by the impeccable director Riccardo Binda, who for imagination and organization has few equals. Great sobriety and great efficiency. 

The 2020 vintage in Bolgheri was complex: cool and rainy winter, night frosts in March that did no damage thanks to late vegetation. A regular spring with some rain. By June the rains ended and a great heat hit the area. Rain waited until the end of August, and September saw a major drop in temperatures until the 20th of the month. The great skill of the producers resulted in very interesting wines with persuasive and fruity aromas almost everywhere, excellent tannins and a dense texture giving drinkability and a juicy sip. A vintage to drink, to be catered to, in order to protect the austere and magnificent 2015, 2016 and 2019. Better than expected performance of the producers with respect to the vintage, a sign of great technical sensitivity.  

The 7-8 months advance of the event with respect to the release of the wines meant that some samples were not yet bottled and some blends were probably not final, but the average was high not only in the most famous wines but also in the outsiders, which in Bolgheri are many and very competitive. In this regard we point out below seven lesser known but very high performing producers. 

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

• La Madonnina, Bolgheri Superiore Opera Omnia 2020 – 95/100 - € 80 
• I luoghi, Bolgheri Superiore Campo al Fico 2020 – 94/100 - € 55
• Podere Sette, Bolgheri Superiore il superbo 2020 – 94/100 - € 35 
• PietraNova, Bolgheri Superiore Renzo 2020 – 94/100 - € 40 
• Villanoviana, Bolgheri Superiore Ferrugo 2020 – 94/100 - € 45 
• Batzella, Bolgheri Superiore Tam 2020 – 93/100 - € 35 
• Podere dei Musi, Bolgheri Superiore Caravéna 2020 – 93/100 - € 40 

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