Antinori - Cervaro della Sala 2022
Price: $94.99
Sale Price: $75.99
| Producer | Antinori |
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| Country | Italy |
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| Region | Umbria |
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| Varietal | Proprietary White |
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| Vintage | 2022 |
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| Sku | 14050 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Until this wine in the 2017 vintage, I could count on one finger the number of Italian Chardonnays I had offered in my 17 years in business. Now, 18+ years in, that number has risen to two.
And a whopping one more that I have even had in the store on the shelf.
Shout out to Steven Tweddell, who was here at the beginning… I finally broke down, man…
Italian Chardonnay. I know. It just seems… out of place. When there are so many incredible native grapes… and when we can throw a dart and find incredible Chardonnays from California and France… why take a risk on buying a stash of Italian Chard?
In this case, the answer was easy. Why take the risk? Because it is just ridiculously good. I had a glass of the 2016 and was convinced it was on level with $150+ Burgs and $100 ish Cali Chards. So, I started trying to source some. Go figure, it wasn’t that easy. I had to call in a favor! So got some of the 2017 and promptly sold it out. Another favor? Favor granted, the wine is now here. For a very short period of time.
James Suckling: 98 Points
"Attractive nose of ripe mangoes, pineapple and grilled lemons with some toasty, nutty notes and hints of smoky minerality. Cardamom and pie crust, too. It’s full-bodied, nervy and juicy, with bright acidity and savory nuances. It’s layered and long and it builds up on the palate, with vibrant, spicy notes of candied ginger, dried lemons and bitter citrus peel. Truly the Montrachet of Italy. Drink or hold." JS
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
"This is Marchesi Antinori's top white wine, and it comes from the region of Umbria. The Castello della Sala 2022 Cervaro della Sala is based on Chardonnay and has a small part of the local grape Grechetto in the blend. The nose opens to a reductive note of flint or matchstick, but it lifts quickly to reveal soft orchard fruit, white peach and minty apple. There are delicately applied toasted notes with a hint of pecan or macadamia nut. To finish, you also get salty mineral notes that underline the extremely vertical or lifted personality of the bouquet. Renzo Cotarella tells me that tweaks to winemaking in recent years have attempted "to slim down the wine and not make it any bigger." This was a hot vintage, but Cervaro della Sala remains true to its leaner and meaner blueprint. However, given its accessible personality, we could expect a shorter drinking window for the 2022s. Drink: 2024-2035."
Vinous Media: 94 Points
"The name Cervaro comes from the noble family that owned Castello della Sala during the 14th century, Monaldeschi della Cervara. A blend of Chardonnay grapes and a small quantity of Grechetto make a wine that can age over time and represent the elegance and complexity of this unique estate. Cervaro della Sala is one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques. The first vintage of Cervaro to be produced was the 1985 vintage."
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
Artwork does not necessarily represent items for sale.
