# Villa Donoratico (2022)

- **Producer:** Tenuta Argentiera
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €38
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, blackberry, plum, black pepper, mint, fennel, chocolate, cedar, leather, wet leaves

## About this wine

Villa Donoratico is named in honor of the historic Serristori family, who acquired the Donoratico lands in 1512 and built the Villa in 1660. The estate of Tenuta Argentiera was founded in 1999 and acquired in 2016 by Austrian entrepreneur Stanislaus Turnauer. Occupying a unique position in the southern tip of the Bolgheri DOC in Tuscany, the estate features vineyards closest to the sea while simultaneously boasting the highest elevations in the appellation. Situated along the boundary between open slopes and dense Mediterranean scrub, the terroir is heavily influenced by cooling maritime breezes and complex flysch soils.

## Interesting facts

- Named after the Serristori family who built Villa Donoratico in 1660 and introduced paid wages for farm workers in Bolgheri.
- Tenuta Argentiera boasts the highest vineyard elevations in the entire Bolgheri DOC while simultaneously being closest to the sea.
- Each bottle features a Prooftag™ nanotechnology bubble seal on the neck to guarantee authenticity.

## Food pairing

This full-bodied, structured Tuscan red blend pairs magnificently with rich, savory proteins like wild game and prime cuts of beef. The wine's intense structure and fresh acidity cut through rich fats and elevate earthy flavors such as wild mushrooms and aged hard cheeses, whereas light fish or spicy dishes would be overwhelmed.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested with double sorting tables, beginning in late August. Fermentation and maceration occur over 25 days at controlled temperatures of 28–30°C in stainless steel tanks, with grape varieties fermented separately. Malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged for 12 months in 500-liter French and Austrian oak tonneaux, followed by an additional 6 months of bottle refinement prior to release.