Poggio al Tesoro is a 70 hectare property in Bolgheri acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family. The first vineyard they bought, Le Sondraie, is next door to Ornellaia and was previously rented by them. It is 50 hectares in size and is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Vermentino. All of the Poggio al Tesoro vineyards are located “soprastrada”, the area to the east of the Bolgherese road that is considered the best spot in Bolgheri. Soils here are complex and varied thanks to minerals brought through centuries by the Seggio stream from the nearby hillsides. A careful mapping of the soil has allowed Allegrini to plant the best variety for each plot. This attention to details continues today with a sustainable and organic approach in the vineyard and mini – vinifications in the winery, where different vessels and techniques are used in order to get the best out of each variety and each plot. This approach is evident when tasting the wines: every year the quality is improving and the wines express the uniqueness of the Bolgheri territory. The ’Solosole’ Vermentino is crisp and fresh, made from a specially selected Vermentino clone from Corsica. The ’Pagus Camilla’ is a step up, made from Vermentino from a prime vineyard on deep sandy soils by the river Camilla and aged on its lees with regular bâtonnage for nine months. This premium Vermentino boasts intense aromas of Mediterranean herbs and citrus with a marked minerality on the finish. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot-based ’Cassiopea’ Rosato is a deliciously fruity rosé, softly pressed and fermented in stainless steel. The ’Mediterra’, a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is a fragrant and intensely fruity red wine. ’Il Seggio’ is the name of the creek that runs through Bolgheri. The wine that bears its name is a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend aged in 225 litre barriques for 15 months. It is structured, concentrated and fresh. The ’Sondraia’, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc has a pure cassis note on the nose that gives way to a lovely depth of fruit on the palate. It is a very classy wine indeed. ’W Dedicato a Walter’ is their pure Cabernet Franc, first produced in 2003. It is lifted yet ripe, intense yet balanced. A rather wet spring caused some concern both in terms of the health and the quality of the grapes. The summer, however, brought some major improvements to the vineyards, with constant sunny and breezy weather. During the last phase of the harvest, when all the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon grapes had still not been harvested, temperatures, especially at night, fell drastically and were accompanied by cold north and north-easterly winds. These conditions enabled the grapes to remain dry and preserved them from attacks of Botrytis and various moulds. This is a fragrant and intensely fruity red wine, with aromas of blackberries, plums and cherries interwoven with white pepper and elegant herbaceous notes. This blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a fresh, easy-drinking wine that nevertheless expresses the rich complexity of Bolgheri.