By Poggio al Tesoro
Sondraia Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2021

Wine Details
Region: Tuscany
Area: Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Livorno
Vineyard Location: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Via Bolgherese Vineyard; Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Le Sondraie Vineyard
Altitude: Via Bolgherese 56 m (183 feet) a.s.l.; Le Sondraie 25 m (114 feet) a.s.l.
Exposure: West and southwest
Training System: Spurred cordon
Average Vine Age: 23 years
Density: Via Bolgherese 9,000-10,000 vines/ha (3,642-4,046 vines/ac); Le Sondraie 7,936 vines/ha (3,211 vines/ac)
Harvest: Hand harvest in small 5-7 kg crates; hand sorting on a sorting table before and after destemming

Soil
Via Bolgherese, deep soils with coarse-grained red sand, gravelly, well-drained with a layer of clay at 120 cm (46 inches) below the surface. Slightly sub-alkaline. Le Sondraie, clayey with well-drained sandy silt and high concentrations of magnesium and iron.

Winemaking Notes
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Vinification: Maceration and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
Fermentation: At 28-30 degrees C (82-86 degrees F) for 20-25 days
Malolactic Fermentation: Took place naturally (without inoculation) in barriques at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F) in November
Aging: 20 months in 225-liter French oak barriques (50% new, 50% second use); 9 months bottle aging

Technical Details
Alcohol: 15.00%
Total Acidity: 5.75 g/l
Residual Sugar: 1.0 g/l
Dry Extract: 32.3 g/l
pH: 3.65

Vintage Notes
The Bolgheri area in 2021 was marked by a long dry spell, lasting from mid-May through the end of harvest. The summer was mostly dry and breezy, with warm but not overly oppressive temperatures. Thanks to the rainy winter, the soils retained good water reserves, which helped the vines avoid stress during the dry period. A significant temperature swing between day and night, especially in early September, helped preserve grape acidity and maintain aromatic complexity. We can consider 2021 a fine vintage, characterized by fresh, mineral-driven wines that are also full-bodied, with elegant tannins and excellent persistence, fragrance, and aroma.

Tasting Notes
Sondraia enchants with its deep ruby hue, inviting you into a bouquet of ripe blackberries and plums, kissed by whispers of rosemary and spice. On the palate, it unfolds with a velvety embrace, where luscious dark fruit dances alongside subtle notes of chocolate and earth. The finish lingers like a sweet memory, leaving a soft, warm echo of fruit and spice that beckons you back for more.

Service
Serve at 16-18 degrees C (60-64 degrees F) in large wine glasses.
[Information provided by Poggio al Tesoro]

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia 2021
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: After 2028
Review Date: 07/22/2024
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries with fresh sage and thyme, following through to a medium to full body with very polished tannins and cedar and sandalwood undertones. Some lavender and rose petals, too. Refined and polished. Needs three to four years to come together, but already beautiful. Drink after 2028, but hard not to taste now.

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro, Sondraia, Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy 2021
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040
Review Date: 01/19/2026
Reviewed By: James Button
Tasting Notes: Sondraia is always a pleasure to drink, but in 2021 it's perhaps even more so - its verticality and energy shine, and its body drips with ripe and chocolatey black and blue berry juice. Only released a couple of weeks ago, expect this to really get going over the next 12 months or so. Now Andrea Lonardi MW is working with the estate, future vintages will see a move towards the use of larger barrels rather than barriques. We have high expectations...

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia Bolgheri Superiore 2021
Score/Rating: 95
Review Date: 07/30/2025
Reviewed By: Luca Maroni

Wine: 2021 Poggio al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040
Review Date: 02/13/2025
Reviewed By: Monica Larner
Tasting Notes: The Poggio al Tesoro 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from one of the most consistent quality producers on the Tuscan Coast. This is a lovely wine from an epic vintage that promises both elegance and power. This wine delivers those qualities and also showcases the generous, sunshine-drenched character of its geographic region. There are thick layers of dark blackberry fruit and crushed graphite, and the wine also offers sweet vanilla spice from the oak. These flavors have the latitude for good integration with a few more years of bottle age. [...]

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro 2021 Bolgheri Rosso Sondraia
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Review Date: 07/2026
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Bolgheri Rosso Sondraia opens with a captivating bouquet of tobacco, dried herbs, espresso and mocha. Medium in body and pliant with superb balance, the 2021 is very easy to enjoy today.

Wine: 2021 Poggio Al Tesoro Sondraia
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2041
Review Date: 05/07/2026
Reviewed By: Audrey Frick
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Sondraia, composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, pours a deep, nearly opaque red hue and is layered and savory with notes of licorice, dried cherry, fig, cedar, and Mediterranean herbs. Full-bodied, it combines richness with freshness, offering supple tannins, good structure, and a long, balanced finish. The estate’s flagship wine, it offers a good deal of depth while approachable and a wide window for enjoyment over the next 15 or so years. Drink 2026-2041.

Wine: Poggio Al Tesoro, Sondraia, Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy, 2021
Score/Rating: 93 - Silver
Review Date: 2026
Tasting Notes: Opulent and ripe blackcurrants, plums combined with spice, smoke and tobacco notes, long and juicy aftertaste underpinned by a crisp freshness

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro 2021 Sondraia Red Blend (Bolgheri)
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 11/01/2025
Reviewed By: Danielle Callegari
Tasting Notes: The nose opens with the floral, saline feel of violets, soil and salt, then leans into undertones of pomegranate syrup and chocolate. The palate layers super bright, ripe blackberries and blueberries with chocolate, but chalky, grippy tannins fortify an intense, peppery heat underneath.

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia 2021
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2037
Review Date: 02/28/2026
Reviewed By: Bruce Sanderson
Tasting Notes: A pretty red, this exhibits cherry, raspberry, vanilla, toasty spice and tobacco flavors. Harmonious, with lively acidity and refined tannins underneath. Fine length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2037.

Wine: Poggio al Tesoro, Sondraia Superiore 2021 Bolgheri
Score/Rating: 16.5+
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2033
Review Date: 03/25/2024
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 20 months in 225-litre French oak barriques. Luscious shaded crimson. Pruney-ripe nose. Very sweet start and slightly warm finish but a good choice for hedonists. Just very slightly pinched on the finish.