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Villa Donoratico

Villa Donoratico

Bolgheri DOC Rosso

A tribute to the historic Serristori family, who acquired Donoratico in 1512 and constructed the Villa there in 1660. From that time on, the family played a major role in scientific, agrarian, social and human activities.

45% Cabernet Sauvignon

30% Merlot

15% Cabernet Franc

10% Petit Verdot

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Located on the far side of the Viale dei Pini and the Villa Serristori, the Villa Donoratico vineyard lies on the border between the summer-dried open land and the cooling breath of the dense vegetation. The vines send their roots into both sandy and rocky soils, but find in both adequate nourishment as well as distinctive mineral elements for the wines. Villa Donoratico stands out for its vibrant, aromatic progression on the palate, redolent of crisp mint and an intriguing wild note of Mediterranean scrub. Each sip of Donoratico totally encapsulates its striking hillslope vineyard.

Vineyards & Terroir

 

Villa Donoratico is a vineyard with structured soils. The lower areas display continental-type sands, while in the higher bands of the hillslope soils are transitional, and the Lower Cretacean flysch increases with the elevation. These deep soils continue, vintage after vintage, to improve wine quality.

 

ALTITUDE

30-80 meters a.s.l.

SOILS

Continental-type sand, with abundant Flysch: sedimentary rock composed of limestone, marl, and shale with intercalation of sandstone and siliceous cobble

ASPECT

North, with a small portion facing south

DENSITY

6,000 vines/hectare

YELD

70 quintals/hectare

Winemaking process

 

Harvest method: manual
Fermentation and maceration: 25 days at a controlled temperature of 28-30°C, in stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation: in stainless steel tanks
Maturation: 12 months in French and Austrian 500-litre tonneaux
Bottle ageing: 6 months

2020 Growing Season

 

After a winter that was cold and wet, but brought little rain, spring gifted above-average temperatures, until flowering in late May.

Summer saw hot, but not excessive, weather from veraison at the end of July through the last week of August, when an adequate 40mm of rain arrived, which brought cooling relief. The ripening process, therefore, concluded perfectly.

2020 Harvest Notes

 

Merlot and Petit Verdot were harvested in the first week in September, while Cabernet Sauvignon had to wait until the latter half of the month, when a sudden cooling and some rain, somewhat unusual for the Bolgheri coast, quickened the pace of harvest. The upshot was a crop of outstanding ripeness and overall balance of components. Merlot and Petit Verdot were harvested in the first week in September, while Cabernet Sauvignon had to wait until the latter half of the month, when a sudden cooling and some rain, somewhat unusual for the Bolgheri coast, quickened the pace of harvest. The upshot was a crop of outstanding ripeness and overall balance of components.

Right from the start, the grapes were noteworthy for their aromatic delicacy and remarkable elegance, and the wines displayed fine balance and significant integration of tannins and acidities, all of which delivered a vintage promising equilibrium and longevity.

Ratings & Awards

2020

  • James Suckling: 93pt
  • Robert Parker: 93pt
  • Falstaff: 93pt
  • Wine Spectator: 90pt

2019

  • James Suckling:93pt
  • Falstaff: 93pt
  • Doctor Wine: 92pt
  • Italian Wine Report: 91pt
  • Wine Spectator: 90pt
  • Vinum: 17,5/20

2018

  • Gambero Rosso: Tre Bicchieri
  • James Suckling: 94pt
  • Falstaff: 93pt
  • Doctor Wine: 92pt
  • Robert Parker: 92pt
  • Jancis Robinson: 17/20pt

2017

  • Falstaff: 91pt
  • Wine Spectator: 92pt
  • James Suckling: 92pt
  • Robert Parker: 92+Pt
  • Vinum: 16/20pt

2016

  • Doctor Wine: 91pt
  • Wine Spectator: 91pt
  • James Suckling: 95pt
  • Robert Parker: 92pt

2015

  • Falstaff: 90pt
  • Doctor Wine: 94pt
  • Vinum: 16.5/20pt
  • James Suckling: 92pt
  • Robert Parker: 90pt
  • Sommelier Wine Award: Bronze
  • Wine Spectator: 92pt

2013

  • James Suckling: 94pt
  • Doctor Wine: 90pt
  • Falstaff: 92pt
  • Robert Parker: 91pt
  • Wine Spectator: 89pt

2012

  • Wine Spectator: 89pt
  • James Suckling: 91pt
  • Sommelier Wine Award: Gold
  • Robert Parker: 89pt

2011

  • James Suckling: 90pt
  • Wine Spectator: 89pt
  • Robert Parker: 88pt

2010

  • Wine Enthusiast: 91pt
  • Veronelli: 90pt
  • Wine Spectator: 89pt
  • Robert Parker: 88pt
  • James Suckling: 92pt

2009

  • Wine Spectator: 89pt
  • Duemilavini AIS: 4 Grappoli
  • James Suckling: 92pt
  • Wine Enthusiast: 90pt

2008

  • Wine Spectator: 91pt
  • Wine Enthusiast: 91pt
  • Duemilavini AIS: 4 Grappoli
  • Veronelli: 3 Stelle

2007

  • Duemilavini AIS: 4 Grappoli
  • Wine Spectator: 90pt
  • Wine Enthusiast: 90pt
  • Veronelli: 91pt
  • Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri
  • Vinum: 16/20pt

2006

  • Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri
  • L'espresso: 15,5/20pt
  • Wine Spectator: 91pt
  • Duemilavini AIS: 3 Grappoli
  • Decanter: 4 Stelle

2005

  • Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri
  • Iwsc: Medaglia D'argento
  • Duemilavini AIS: 3 Grappoli
  • Veronelli: 3 Stelle Rosse
  • L'espresso: 15,5/20pt
  • Wine Spectator: 88pt

2004

  • Wine Spectator: 91pt
  • Gambero Rosso: 2 Bicchieri
  • L'espresso: 15/20pt
  • Veronelli: 91pt
  • Falstaff: 90pt

2003

  • Wine Spectator: 89pt

Watch the 3D video of the Villa Donoratico vineyard

In this northfacing, 12-hectare vineyard, with more structured soils, the lower areas, at about 30 meters a.s.l., display continental-type sands, while in the higher bands of the hillslope, at 100 metres’ elevation, soils are transitional, and the Lower Cretacean flysch increases with the elevation.

 

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