Solleone - 2018
Tenuta Grillo
- Region
- Italy 禄 Vino
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- Tenuta Grillo
- Vintage
- 2018
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol
- 13
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- 1 bottles
- Find at
Solleone was born from the idea of using an international grape variety to showcase the strong Piedmont territorial imprint. It's 100% Sauvignon Blanc from 25-year-old vines; like all white wines produced by Guido Zampaglione, it undergoes long maceration. In this case, we are talking about 60 days of skin contact with native yeasts, spontaneous fermentation, 12 months of ageing in steel tanks, 5 years in bottles, with no filtration. Annual production is about 5000 bottles.
Ratings
A bit perfumed bouquet of apricot jam, dried herbs, dried flowers, nuts, and a hint of canned tuna. On the palate, it's not super tannic but round and well-structured, with a long, flavourful, and delicate aftertaste. A beautiful and quaffable wine.
After several harsh experiences with Tenuta Grillo, I became reluctant. Yet I was so wrong鈥攖his bottle is friendly and charming. On the nose, it's a typical skin contact from Northern Italy, but on the palate, it's like Gentle Folk! A bit perfumed with a beautiful bouquet of apricot jam, dried herbs, dried flowers, nuts, and a hint of bubble gum. On the palate, it's not super tannic, well-structured with a long and delicate aftertaste. Unexpectedly beautiful wine.
Tenuta Grillo
Tenuta Grillo was founded in 2002 in Monferrato (Piedmont) by Guido Zampaglione, originally from Campania. His plan was simple鈥攖o start small and gradually increase yearly production to 80,000 bottles. But somewhere along the way, Guido realised he couldn't and didn't want to pursue that goal. For him, being fully involved in the winemaking process, including growing the grapes, to create uncompromisingly high-quality wines with strong ageing potential, was the priority. Considering that he enjoys drinking mature wines himself, he releases them onto the market after some decent ageing in bottles.
The vineyards are located in the Monferrato region, near a small village called Gamalero. The vines grow in sandy, quick-draining soil on a gently sloping upland about 350 meters above sea level. The continental climate is characterised by great heat during the day, while the nights are cooler. Wine production is based on low yields and a meticulous selection of the grapes. Winemaking features long macerations (often several weeks), indigenous yeasts, minimal use of sulfur dioxide, and the exclusion of other additives. Ageing primarily occurs in large wooden barrels.