2020 Soldera Case Basse, 100% Sangiovese, Toscana 3x75cl

Soldera / Case Basse: A Montalcino Icon

Tucked away in the southwestern sector of Montalcino, Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera is one of the most fiercely independent, revered, and intensely debated wine estates in Italy. The modern legend of the property was forged in 1972 by Gianfranco Soldera, a former Milanese insurance broker who transformed a neglected, run-down estate with the singular goal of proving that Sangiovese could achieve the same ethereal complexity as the world’s finest grand crus.

Soldera was a loud champion of unadulterated viticulture and famously stood as one of the fiercest opponents to introducing international varieties into the region’s historic wines. Following his passing in 2019, his wife Graziella, alongside his children Monica and Mauro and their families, have capably taken the reins.

An Ethereal Style of Absolute Purity and Scholarly Precision

The overarching winemaking style of Soldera Case Basse is characterised by its weightless concentration, translucent brick-red colour, and a hauntingly complex aromatic profile. Sourced exclusively from 100% Sangiovese, the winemaking philosophy bridges strict agricultural traditionalism with advanced academic research into vineyard microbiology.

In the cellar, the fruit is meticulously sorted by size and berry integrity before undergoing entirely natural fermentation inside large, 10,000-litre oak vats without artificial temperature controls. The wines are subsequently aged for nearly four years in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks and are bottled entirely unfiltered directly from the wood. Rather than leaning toward a dark or heavily extracted oak profile, Soldera delivers a high-tension style, driven by striking natural acidity, delicate silken tannins, and layers of sour cherry, dried roses, tobacco, and mineral salinity.

Supreme Quality & Cult Status

The unparalleled global demand and blue-chip investment status surrounding Soldera Case Basse are driven by an uncompromising commitment to quality and historic rarity. Following a high-profile cellar vandalism in 2012 that destroyed multiple vintages of his aging wine, Soldera famously withdrew from the local consorzio, choosing to label his flagship releases under the broader Toscana IGT classification rather than Brunello di Montalcino. Through severe green harvesting and a ruthless berry-by-berry selection process, production remains remarkably tiny. Celebrated by collectors as the ultimate “Holy Grail” of Italian wine, Soldera is purpose-built to cellar for decades, gracefully unfolding deep, multi-layered savory complexities that fine wine enthusiasts relentlessly track down.