There’s a story that begins in 2001, when Marilisa and Walter Allegrini looked beyond Valpolicella and chose Bolgheri. Thus was born Poggio al Tesoro, an estate that today embraces the vineyards along the Via Bolgherese and the Le Sondraie area, becoming in just a few years one of the most authoritative voices of the region. Sondraia, first created in the 2003 vintage and immediately recognized as a “classic” of the denomination, stands as the emblem of this vision: a Supertuscan that unites richness, tension, and finesse without ever raising its voice.

Sondraia takes its name from Le Sondraie, one of the estate’s geographical hearts. Here, and along the Via Bolgherese, the finest selections are born — those from which the flagship wine is sculpted, harvest after harvest. In 2016, nature played its part: an early-ripening vintage, breezy and dry summer days, a refreshing rainfall at the beginning of September, and strong temperature variations before harvest gave perfectly healthy grapes and a natural aromatic lift.

The terroir is a co-author of the wine. The Cabernets from Via Bolgherese sink their roots into coarse red sands and well-draining gravel with a layer of clay in depth, while at Le Sondraie clay soils prevail, with sandy-loam textures rich in magnesium and iron. West and southwest exposures, altitudes between 35 and 56 meters, high planting density, and spur-pruned cordon training complete a picture of agronomic precision.

In the glass, Sondraia 2016 confirms its sculpted style: it opens with aromas of ripe, pure dark fruit, touches of Mediterranean scrub, and a gentle balsamic note. On the palate, it is full and seamless; the tannins are dense yet polished, the mid-palate juicy, and the finish long and refreshing, enlivened by a savory thread that invites another sip. It is the elegance of Bolgheri that never forsakes character.

Sondraia 2016 is the accomplished expression of a luminous place and of the skilled hands that interpret it — a Bolgheri Superiore that can delight today and evolve gracefully over time, chosen by those who seek balance and substance rather than special effects.