Antinori - Castello della Sala : Bramito della Sala Chardonnay 2024

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of Antinori - Castello della Sala's Bramito della Sala Chardonnay 2024

Tasting

Appearance
This wine reveals a luminous straw-yellow robe, enhanced by delicate golden highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet displays great elegance, releasing scents of Williams pear, broom flower and lime. This fruity and floral ensemble is enriched by more indulgent nuances of toasted hazelnut, fresh butter and brioche.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is harmonious and perfectly structured. It offers a superb balance between lovely freshness and pronounced sapidity. The long, persistent finish unfolds on notes of fresh almond and a marked minerality.

The Elegance of an Umbrian Chardonnay by Antinori - Castello della Sala

The estate

Located in Umbria, the Castello della Sala estate was acquired in 1940 by the renowned Antinori family, whose winemaking history dates back to 1385. Now led by Albiera Antinori with Renzo Cotarella as CEO, this property spans 600 hectares, 229 of which are dedicated to vines. A true benchmark, this prestigious brand has successfully combined the heritage of a medieval fortress built in 1350 with cutting-edge viticulture. The estate stands out for its ability to produce white wines of exceptional quality, showcasing a unique terroir while preserving a strong identity and international renown.

The vineyard

The vines used for this cuvée flourish in the heart of the Umbria IGT appellation, on the lands surrounding the Castello della Sala. Planted at an altitude ranging between 220 and 470 metres, the vineyard benefits from excellent exposure facing the rising sun. The soils stand out for their richness in marine fossil deposits dating back to the Pliocene era, interwoven with veins of clay. This singular geology, combined with significant temperature variations between day and night, gives the grapes a slow and optimal ripening, shaping the minerality and elegance characteristic of this terroir.

The vintage

The 2024 season proved particularly well-balanced. The mild winter, accompanied by regular rainfall, allowed the soils' water reserves to be replenished. Spring, slightly cooler, brought well-distributed rains that favoured a classic budburst. The months of May and June provided the moisture needed to support the vine's growth without water stress, leading to flowering in late May and a uniform fruit set. From mid-July through August, warm and sunny days, coupled with significant nighttime temperature variations, ensured a gradual ripening up to the harvest, which began in late August and was completed during the first week of September.

Vinification and ageing

Upon arrival at the cellar, the grapes for the Bramito della Sala Chardonnay 2024 are destemmed and then gently crushed. The must and skins then undergo a short cold maceration at 10°C for two to four hours in order to optimise the extraction of aromas. After clarification, the lots are vinified separately: one part ferments in oak barrels, where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation, while the other part ferments in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16 to 18°C. The various lots are finally blended before bottling.

Grape variety

This Italian white wine is a 100% Chardonnay