2008 Brunello di Montalcino, Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera, Tuscany

Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera

The indefatigable Gianfranco Soldera, a former insurance broker from Treviso, bought the 24 ha Casse Basse property in 1972, of which approx. 12 ha is planted to vines.

The Casse Basse Soldera estate lies at 320 metres on the south-western wing of the Montalcino commune. Along with his wife Graziella and daughter Monica, he has sought to create an oasis of diversity through 7 ha of woodland, a rose garden, an orchard of 200 crab apple trees and a pond. This theme is reiterated through the vineyard, employing techniques that respect the integrity of the ancient friable schistous soils.

The winery, deep underground, is built in such a way (ala Dominus) so as to facilitate natural air circulation while encouraging a consistent relative humidity of 85%. Since the 1980s, month-long fermentations, of free-run juice only, have been conducted in large old slavonian oak vats without temperature control.

Central to his search for vinous perfection is the belief that 'time is the most important element if one's to make the best'. Consequently, 'affinamento'/elevage takes place in large 25hl old slavonian botte for up to 6 years. His wines represent among the purest and most ethereal expressions of Brunello di Montalcino.

Sangiovese

A black grape widely grown in Central Italy and the main component of Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano as well as being the sole permitted grape for the famed Brunello di Montalcino.

It is a high yielding, late ripening grape that performs best on well-drained calcareous soils on south-facing hillsides. For years it was blighted by poor clonal selection and massive overcropping - however since the 1980s the quality of Sangiovese-based wines has rocketed upwards and they are now some of the most sought after in the world.

It produces wines with pronounced tannins and acidity, though not always with great depth of colour, and its character can vary from farmyard/leather nuances through to essence of red cherries and plums. In the 1960s the advent of Super Tuscans saw bottlings of 100% Sangiovese wines, as well as the introduction of Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blends, the most famous being Tignanello.