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| Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari
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Among Tuscany's oldest and most prestigious wine families,
Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari (father and son) teamed with Allen Shoup
to produce a wine that is true to Washington's terrior with plenty of Italian
character. Saggi (meaning "wisdom") is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Syrah varieties, selected from the Columbia Valley's best
vineyards.
Tasting Notes: This Super Tuscan style wine offers delicate
fig and baking spice aromas. Bright red fruit and dark cherries enhance the
wine's balanced structure. The finish is long and concentrated with a hint of
ripe pomegranate.
Vintage: The 2005 growing season was an exceptional vintage
that produced beautifully balanced, aromatic wines with intense, focused
flavors. Spring conditions were mild, but by mid-June temperatures began to
rise and the summer stayed hot. As if on command, the heat backed off just
enough in September to allow the grapes to spend extra time on the vine and
reach their full maturity. It was the perfect ending to an ideal vintage that
will certainly be remembered as one of the decade's finest.
Winemaking: Hand-picked grapes were fermented in two-ton tanks
with particular attention given to the slow-growing Sangiovese. Gentle handling
was employed to avoid green characteristics in the wine. To achieve a delicate
yet full mid-palate, skin maceration was extended to 25 days or more before
aging the wine in small French oak barrels for 16 months.
Vineyards: From the start, the Folonaris sought to make a wine
true to Columbia Valley's terroir but with plenty of Tuscan character.
It was the Sangiovese from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills,
complemented by the structure and richness of the area's Cabernet Sauvignon,
which convinced them the growing region could produce the wine they envisioned.
Other growing regions contributing to this blend include Walla Walla Valley
(from older vines for added depth); Yakima Valley (for balance); and Red
Mountain (for color and structure).
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.73
TA: 0.58 grams/100ml
Blend:
45% Sangiovese
35% Cabernet
20% Syrah
Release date: October 2007
Production: 796 cases
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