Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2017

Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2017 is a Bolgheri Superiore DOC red blend from Tuscany, Italy, bottled at 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 92 points by Robert Parker, this Bordeaux-style blend from one of Bolgheri's most respected estates delivers concentrated dark fruit layered with earthy minerality and oak spice.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: Bolgheri Superiore DOC, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Winery: Poggio al Tesoro (Allegrini family)

Production & Heritage

Poggio al Tesoro is owned by Marilisa Allegrini, a prominent figure in Italian winemaking whose family also oversees the celebrated Allegrini estate in Valpolicella. The Sondraia 2017 is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc — a classic Bolgheri Superiore composition rooted in the Bordeaux tradition that defines Italy's Tuscan coast. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit purity, followed by 18 months of refinement in French oak barrels. The estate is known for meticulous vineyard mapping, matching specific grape varieties to the terrain best suited for their expression, an approach that gives Sondraia its site-driven character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Inky and dark from the outset, opening with dried blackberry, plum, and mocha. Deeper layers reveal clove, bark, walnut husk, and a thread of wild rosemary that speaks to the Tuscan coastal landscape.

Taste: The entry is immediately succulent — ripe black cherry and black currant lead into a mid-palate that is extracted yet velvety. Licorice, olive, and tobacco notes emerge alongside a hint of bell pepper from the Cabernet Franc. Iron-like minerality and smoky oak spice give the wine serious structural depth.

Finish: Warming and persistent, with lingering mocha, dried spice, and a savory tobacco quality. The tannins are firm but polished, tapering slowly with echoes of dark fruit and oak.

How to Drink Sondraia 2017

This wine benefits from 30 to 60 minutes in a decanter before serving at around 16–18°C. Its concentration and structure make it ideal for sipping alongside food rather than as a casual pour. A Bistecca alla Fiorentina is the natural Tuscan pairing, with the wine's tannins cutting through charred, fatty beef. It also stands up well in a dinner built around slow-braised short ribs, where its dark fruit and licorice notes mirror the richness of the meat. For a lighter match, try it with aged Pecorino cheese drizzled with chestnut honey — the salty, nutty cheese draws out the wine's earthy minerality.

Best For

• Pairing with a formal Italian dinner featuring grilled red meats or game
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Bolgheri or Bordeaux-style blends
• Cellaring for further development over the next 5–8 years
• Exploring the Tuscan coast's Super Tuscan tradition beyond Sassicaia and Ornellaia

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sondraia 2017 taste like? Sondraia 2017 delivers rich black cherry, plum, and licorice supported by earthy minerality, tobacco, and clove spice. The mid-palate is deeply extracted yet velvety, finishing with warmth and lingering mocha.

How does Sondraia compare to Dedicato a Walter? Dedicato a Walter is Poggio al Tesoro's flagship wine, made from 100% Cabernet Franc, and represents the estate's top expression in terms of rarity and price. Sondraia is the estate's core Bolgheri Superiore, offering a broader Bordeaux-style blend at a more accessible tier while still reflecting the same vineyard-mapping approach to quality.

Is Sondraia 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — the 2017 vintage has firm tannin structure, concentrated fruit, and 15% ABV, all of which support aging. Given its French oak backbone and blend composition, it should develop well for another 5 to 8 years from vintage.

Where is Sondraia made? Sondraia is produced by Poggio al Tesoro in the Bolgheri Superiore DOC on Tuscany's western coast, an area renowned for premium Bordeaux-variety red wines. The estate is owned by Marilisa Allegrini and benefits from the warm maritime climate and diverse soils of the Bolgheri appellation.

What foods pair well with Sondraia 2017? Grilled T-bone steak or Bistecca alla Fiorentina, where the tannins match the charred fat; slow-braised lamb shoulder with rosemary, complementing the wine's herbal undertone; wild boar ragù over pappardelle for a rich Tuscan pairing; aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Toscano, whose salty nuttiness highlights the wine's minerality; and dark chocolate tart, which echoes its mocha and licorice finish.

What sizes does Sondraia 2017 come in? Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2017 is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Sondraia 2017 worth the price? Sondraia positions as a mid-to-upper-tier Bolgheri Superiore, sitting below the estate's top wine Dedicato a Walter but well above entry-level Bolgheri reds. With 92 points from Robert Parker and 18 months of French oak aging, it delivers strong quality relative to its category and competes favorably with other Bolgheri Superiore wines at a similar level.

Why Sondraia 2017?

The 92-point Robert Parker score confirms this vintage as a serious expression of Bolgheri Superiore. What distinguishes Poggio al Tesoro from many peers in the appellation is the estate's commitment to vineyard mapping — systematically matching grape varieties to the specific parcels where they perform best — which gives Sondraia a sense of site identity rather than formulaic ripeness. Under the ownership of Marilisa Allegrini, the estate brings generations of Italian winemaking expertise to a relatively young but world-class DOC. For anyone exploring the depth of Bolgheri beyond its most famous names, Sondraia 2017 represents a compelling point of entry into one of Tuscany's finest coastal producers.