Old Cellar

Castello di Bolgheri

(Bolgheri)

Castello di Bolgheri

When the topic is Bolgheri as wine region, there is always mention of the fact that San Guido was the first wine-growing business there. That's not quite correct. Definitely San Guido with its Sassicaia is responsible for discovering the region's potential and producing first class wines of Bordeaux vines. But simple wine has been grown in Bolgheri since the 18th century. This is witnessed by the Castello di Bolgheri, built in 1796, which seems to be awakening from a long sleep.

Castello die Bolgheri grows wine on 50 hectares (123.5 acres). Some of the best climates of Bolgheri are part of its property. The harvest of 20 hectares (49 acres) is sold to San Guido and 10 hectares (25 acres) go to Ornellaia. For some years, the remaining 20 hectares (49 acres) have been used for the in-house wines: the Castello die Bolgheri since the vintage of 2001 and the Varvàra since 2005.

Steel Tanks in the Castello di Bolgheri

Since the cellars have been enlarged and modernised in recent years, it became necessary to produce the first years of the Castello di Bolgheri in other cellars. The 2001 was processed at the Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, the 2004 in the wine cellars of the Guidalberto of San Guido. The Castello di Bolgheri only is produced in the best vintages. In 2002 and 2003 there was no production. The latest vintages have finally, for the first time, been processed at the Castello itself.

Impressive concrete tanks from the fifties are an eye-catcher when you enter the cellar from the street. They are only used transitionally by now. In the cellar, there are steel tanks for fermentation, whereby the gentle and slow extraction of the grapes is a priority. Those are transferred from the sorting table entirely whole to the tank, where they stay up to 30 days until they are filled into barriques.

The wine cellar of the Castello di Bolgheri seems to be the oldest of the village. The new wines leaving it could be regarded among the best of the whole appellation in a few years' time.

Barrel Cellar in the Castello di Bolgheri

Bottle Samples:

red

Varvàra Bolgheri 2005
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah + Petit Verdot - kept in barrique for ten months.
Very fruity with fine plum note and dark fruit. Spices. In the mouth very winy, good acidity, fine spicy tannin, some liquorice and a light, pleasant bitter note.
The name Varvàra (Barbara) honours the Baroness Varvàra Wrangel, the present owner's grandmother.
55,000 Bottles

Castello di Bolgheri - Bolgheri Superiore 2004
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, kept in barrique for 18 months.
Dark red. Spicy fragrance with tobacco, cedar wood and black currant, also found in the taste. Cherry-like, good acidity. Well-balanced, full-bodied and long. A great Bolgheri which is very good by now, but will definitely profit from further storage.
16,000 Bottles

Nikolai Vogel Tastes in the Castello di Bolgheri

[ Content ] [ Next ]


		© 2007 by Vogel & Fitzpatrick GbR Black Ink