Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia Bolgheri 2019 (750ML)

95 WA / 94 JS / 94 DE / 94 WE / 93 WS / 93 VM / 93 FS / 16 JR

Poggio al Tesoro is a 70 hectare property in Bolgheri acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family. Le Sondraie, is next door to Ornellaia who had previously leased the property. It is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Vermentino.

This production of 45,000 bottles is expected to hit the market at the beginning of 2023. The Poggio al Tesoro 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia (a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) makes excellent use of oak aging, resulting in soft tannins, plush richness and attractive concentration. The wine is very well managed overall with plenty of black fruit balanced by spice and tobacco. Its important structure suggests a long aging future.—Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Aromas of fresh herbs such as parsley and nettles, blackcurrants. Pure and focused. Full-bodied with lovely polished tannins that are tailored and focused. Delicious finish. Nice balance to this already and delicious for a young wine but will be better in two or three years. Better after 2023.-James Suckling

Despite increasing a lot in price due to demand, Sondraia is still one of the best buys in Bolgheri. This 2019 is extremely youthful, with estery notes on the nose enhanced by restrained but layered and concentrated bramble fruits, and menthol and chocolate in depth. The attack is fleshy then more tight than supple. Full bodied, with angular tannins and firm acidity, it's not ready to drink now but is full of potential.-Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter

A meaty, savory nose draws freshness from herbal and stony undertones, while a kick of salt and pepper provides pop. The palate turns sweeter, with black cherries and chocolate but maintains the salt and pepper backbone. The tannins are tautly wound around powerful acidity.-Danielle Callegari, Wine Enthusiast

Reveals powerful and firmly wrought tannins, setting the stage for blackberry, black currant, coffee, iron and a hint of dark chocolate. Suave and balanced, with a dusty, bitter cocoa finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2037. 2,500 cases made, 250 cases imported.-Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator

The 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia is a powerful, rather somber wine. In this tasting, the 2019 stands out for its more extracted style and stronger oak imprint, neither of which seem to allow the wine to show at its best. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, tobacco, espresso and torrefaction notes build in the glass. I find the finish a touch abrupt and astringent. All that said, this is still a very good wine.-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Intense, full garnet ruby. Complex on the nose with aromas of tar, dark chocolate, compact oak and lots of dark fruit. Polished and elegant in the drink, precise in the fruit, striking freshness, with young but very fine-grained tannins, still needs some time, but with a lot of maturation potential.-Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler, Falstaff