Winemaker Notes
Argentiera, Doc Bolgheri Superiore, draws its strength and uniqueness from the magnificent territory in which it’s generated. The grapes come from the estate’s best vineyards of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It is a wine with a rich and silky taste. A long maturation in French oak barrels, the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and the unique terroir of Tenuta Argentiera make this wine on of the greatest expressions in the Bolgheri area.
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Despite its position at the southern end of the appellation Tenuta Argentiera is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, with vineyards between 120 and 240 metres above sea level providing the grapes for this wine. The altitude increases the night and day average temperature differences, improving phenolic ripeness. The conversion from cordon to guyot training is increasing the freshness of the grapes. The blend doesn’t change, remaining 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. In 2017 the winery decided to avoid the production of Ventaglio, the 100% Cabernet Franc cru. Argentiera, however, is really good, confirming the usual grace of the wine with more density and power. On the nose a funky note of merde de poule follows clean, dark fruits with buttery and slightly leafy aromas, while the firm yet ripe palate ends with a dark chocolate character.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is a beautiful wine that is climbing fast on a podium of the best in Bolgheri. We saw that ascent clearly with the 2016 vintage. The 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is a 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc blend that delivers the pedigree of the estate. However, those hot-vintage considerations are hard to avoid. The wine opens to dark and sultry fruit with blackberry and dried currant. Those fruit tones are followed by spice, campfire ash and potting soil. The wine works up great momentum on the bouquet, but we get those astringent 2017 tannins on the close.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An outstanding wine region made famous by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines for his own consumption in 1940s on his San Guido estate, and called the resulting wine, Sassicaia. Today the region’s Tuscan reds are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which can be made as single varietal wines or blends. The local Sangiovese can make up no more than 50% of the blends. Today Sassicaia has its own DOC designation within the Bogheri DOC appellation.