Soldera

In 1972, Gianfranco Soldera and his wife Graziella discovered an abandoned and neglected estate in the southwestern region of Montalcino, Italy. It was over 23 hectares, 57+ acres, and a geographically immaculate area for vine growing. When the couple acquired the land, they christened it Case Basse and devoted themselves to bringing the marvelous cru back to life. This took a lot of work and substantial agricultural knowledge since the land had been long abandoned by sharecroppers and left uncultivated for decades. Their hard work and dedication paid off, for this Montalcino farm was perfect for growing Sangiovese Grosso vines and as a result, a Brunello of the highest prestige was created: the Soldera Brunello di Montalcino.

To create his Brunello, Gianfranco concentrated solely on the production of Sangiovese. Case Basse, once the land was properly cultivated, was unsurpassed in potential to plant and grow pristine Sangiovese Grosso vines, and it did not disappoint. The acres were in a hilly land and at an altitude of 320 meters. Sun exposure was from the southwest and provided a limpid, almost crystalline light and the climate was sunny, dry and without fog which can impede the delicate timing of pruning and harvesting of the grapes. Sangiovese from heaven.

One could argue that there is almost no such thing as a bad vintage at Soldera, as the attention to quality never wavers from year to year, which could explain its place at the top of the Brunello hierarchy. Their most notable wine every made is the 1990 Riserva, which could be the single greatest Brunello ever made.