2021 Gianfranco Soldera, Case Basse - Tuscany IGP - 1 Magnum (1.5L)

In the early 1970s, Gianfranco and Graziella Soldera set out in search of a terroir capable of reaching unimaginable heights of quality. They discovered it at the magical Tenuta Case Basse—an estate that was abandoned at the time, where untouched nature had created the ideal habitat for the development of their natural wines. Gianfranco planted his first Sangiovese vineyards between 1972 and 1973, surrounding them with a complex, multifaceted ecosystem designed to foster biodiversity and ensure the optimal ripening of the grapes—ultimately shaping a unique and inimitable tasting experience. An organic production regime, combined with winemaking techniques rooted in tradition, makes Soldera’s “Case Basse” an exceptional and exclusive Sangiovese. In the glass, it reveals an elegant, intense garnet-red hue with subtle orange-toned highlights. Following a long decanting period, the nose unfolds with vigorous, intoxicating fruity and floral notes—ranging from cherry, violet, rose, and plum to wild berries—interwoven with ethereal, intriguing balsamic nuances, along with hints of tobacco, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, licorice, and cloves. On the palate, it is a dense, aristocratic, and persuasive Sangiovese, possessing a fascinating, magnetic personality and astonishing depth and richness, all wrapped in a silky, velvety, and exquisitely polished tannic structure. It concludes with an aftertaste of remarkable, refined persistence. Soldera’s “Case Basse” is produced in very limited, exclusive quantities—the result of passionate labor dedicated to crafting a Sangiovese through entirely natural methods. Following a careful and rigorous selection of the grapes, “Case Basse” undergoes spontaneous fermentation in truncated-conical Slavonian oak vats; one month after the wine is drawn off the lees, malolactic fermentation also takes place naturally. Once fermentation is complete, “Case Basse” matures for approximately 44 months in large Slavonian oak casks, followed by 6 months of bottle aging. Furthermore, the wine undergoes no fining or filtration, and sulfites are added only when necessary.