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. 2017 started with very little rain and slightly lower than usual average temperatures that helped to fight insect infestations. Spring was marked by early bud burst, while the frosts that hit various Italian regions did not adversely affect the vegetation. Summer was characterized by sunny days and constant breezes. Early July was marked by relatively elevated humidity for the coastal area. The first significant rainfall occurred in mid-September, followed again by warm, bright days. The drought helped fighting both fungal and parasitic diseases. Irrigation management was more complex, coordinated with the help of mini weather stations equipped with sensors capable of detecting soil moisture and the release of vapour. Visual and manual monitoring of swelling in the leaves and grapes prompted timely interventions with exactly the right amount of water, enabling to keep the grapes fresh and well-toned, and the leaf canopy actively engaged in photosynthesis. Sondraia has quickly become a classic in the Bolgheri area. Perfectly ripe grapes and painstaking work in the cellar yield a wine with intense fresh dark fruit notes complemented by smoky tobacco, herbs and sweet spices. These characteristics follow on to the palate which is silky smooth and profoundly elegant.