The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's 50 best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.
Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
This unique red wine is a rather newly expression of Argiano's winegrowing potential compared to its Sangiovese-based reds. ‘Solengo’, a Tuscan word meaning 'lone wild boar', marries Tuscan soil with French grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah. It is the result of a team effort between Adriano Bambagioni, Argiano’s long’serving cellar-master and Hans Vinding-Diers, a master winemaker and blender with worldwide experience. While keen to retain Solengo’s unique style the new team is also endowing Solengo with even greater levels of finesse, balance and depth. Hans made and blended his first vintage in 2004, while Solengo is a ‘creation’ of former renowned winemaker Dr Giacomo Tachis.
Tasting profile
Solengo is a modern, well-balanced and full-bodied wine. It is deep, dark purple in colour with a bouquet of ripe fruit, such as blackcurrants and blackberries, with a hint of toasted oak. It is smooth on the palate, with a great concentration of excellent fruit, nicely balanced with delicate, soft tannins. The structure and complexity in the mouth are outstanding, tempered by excellent tannic extracts. Thishigh-profile blend has evident Mediterranean characteristics and a sunny nature. Its grace and delicacy mean that it can be drunk while young, yet it also has a remarkable ageing capacity.
Climatic conditions
The vineyards of Argiano benefit from a favourable microclimate and an enviable position which contribute to the development of the vines. The extended vegetative cycle and ripening period are due to the altitude of the plateau, 300 m above sea level, which determines cool nights in the summer months. The generally moderate rainfall in Montalcino favours better, healthier ripening of the grapes, conveying greater concentration and aromas to the wine. This, together with the hot and constant winds that blow from the Maremma, cooling the bunches of grapes during the hottest summer days, allows slower ripening of the grapes, determining favourable general conditions. Lastly, Argiano is close to Mount Amiata, one of Tuscany’s highest peaks, which protects the entire area from bad weather. The combination of all these factors enables Argiano to make high profile wines and constantly good vintages, year after year.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested between the end of September and the beginning of October. The first grapes to be harvested are always Syrah and Merlot, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot take a little longer to fully express their personality, ripening later. The four different varieties are fermented separately in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 12-16 days. The second fermentation, also known as malo-lactic fermentation (undergone by all red wines), and maturing in wood take place in new French oak barriques with a capacity of 225 litres. When the wine achieves its full potential, the final blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah is created, after which the wine is bottled. It is not filtered and may, consequently, present that harmless sediment that is the mark of a high quality natural wine.
Vuosikerta 2015
BAROLO 2015
2015 vintage climate trend: 2015 began with a winter characterized by abundant snowfalls which allowed an excellent water supply to the land.
This factor combined with a spring with mild temperatures since the month of February allowed for an anticipation of the vegetative cycle which was then maintained in the continuation of the vintage.
The season continued with a succession of rainfall between the end of May and the first ten days of June. From June to July the rains were absent and temperatures stabilized at above average maximum values but without water stress. The climatic conditions recorded at the beginning of summer laid the foundations for an advance in the ripening of the grapes of about ten days compared to the previous year but in line with a vintage that we can define as ‘normal’.
Wines Barolo 2015 vintage: Nebbiolo ripened perfectly, albeit slightly earlier than the average of recent years, with an excellent accumulation of polyphenols. The sugar content stands at average potential values of around 14 – 14.5% vol while the acidity is ideal for Nebbiolo (6.5 g / l).
The Barolo wines of the 2015 vintage are important, elegant and long-lived, there are all the prerequisites for a great vintage, to be remembered, like few others in history. Fully among the best vintages of Barolo.
BARBARESCO 2015
A cold and snowy winter welcomed a warm and dry spring. which allowed an even budding. Summer saw warm days with some rainfall followed by a very dry end of the season. The beginning of fall was dry and cool creating optimal conditions for the phenolic ripening for the Nebbiolo grapes. The warm and dry weather during harvest ensured the grapes were evenly ripe and perfectly healthy.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015
Climate trend: The winter was sparsely rainy and with low temperatures in January / February. Spring precipitation in the seasonal average allowed to create water reserves to overcome the hot months of July / August. The month of September was mild, with good temperature variations between day and night, favoring the perfect ripening of the grapes.
Brunello di Montalcino wines of the 2015 vintage: Deep wines endowed with great extract, lively and intense colors and vigorous tannins of good maturity. Important alcoholic components, in rare cases also in evidence. Crisp, intense and penetrating fruity aromas. An exceptional vintage of Brunello di Montalcino: great character and excellent evolutionary potential, deservedly among the best vintages of Brunello di Montalcino.