2019 Soldera 'Case Basse di Gianfranco,' Toscana IGT

Gianfranco Soldera, is a man who stands by what he believes and with an enduring commitment to the Sangiovese grape. Not only was he revered for his expertise in winemaking, and the funding of research in the field, but he advocated for Brunello di Montalcino to be produced in a traditional manner (with 100% Sangovese grapes) speaking out against producers who blended varietals under the Brunello name. While he was vindicated in court, he was later the victim of sabotage when his entire cellar—nearly a half dozen vintages in various stages of production—was intentionally ruined by a disgruntled employee, a devastating and irreplaceable loss of years of painstaking work.

After a falling out with the local wine association,Soldera made the decision to blend the 2006 Sangiovese from his two vineyards, Intistieti and Case Basse, and bottle it as an IGT rather than as a Brunello di Montalcino. This has been the case ever since. Only 2,000 bottles were released of the 2007 vintage, and 10,000 bottles of the 2008—making these some of the rarest, and most celebrated, of the Soldera vintages. The wines are of exceptional complexity, balanced, and in harmony, with the 2008 the more classic Sangiovese style, and the 2007 more similar in style to earlier Soldera wines. They are to be appreciated for their elegance and the hard-won craftsmanship evident in every bottle.