2017 Bolgheri Superiore
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Argentiera balances elegance and power, with a gorgeous perfume of wet stones, graphite, wild raspberry, crushed violet, wild herbs, and mint. It is rich but feels lifted on the palate, with cedar, and a more angular and gripping structure that will warrant some time to soften. It is showing well now and is a beautiful wine from a challenging vintage. For those who enjoy a more structured wine, this is a great option. Drink 2025-2040. It is no exaggeration to say this is truly one of the most beautiful and picturesque estates in the world, and I highly recommend a visit. Situated in the southern corner of Bolgheri, the wines are built around the 83 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon they have planted exclusively within the DOC. The Ventaglio is a cru concept from a single vineyard located two kilometers from the ocean, planted in 2010 to Cabernet Franc, which they have been bottling since the 2015 vintage. The vines here are planted in a full circle at the top of the hill around a single olive tree (thus the name “Ventaglio” meaning “fan”) and are trained in to keep ventilation flowing through the vineyard.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
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. Production was 80,000 bottles.
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Impenetrable crimson. Deep nose of sweet oak, cassis and dark cherry in equal measures. A hint of chalk. The oak plays a much more supporting role on the palate, allowing the sour cherry and blackcurrant fruit to shine, but adding quite a bit of drying tannins on the finish, which need further bottle age to integrate into the wine. Admirably, the wine doesn't give any clue to the torrid 2017 vintage it comes from. (WS)