The village of Bolgheri is situated south of Livorno, near the coast. Here you can find the most expensive wines of Italy, prestigious estates like Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Guado al Tasso … In the beginning of the 20th century, the castle of Bolgheri was the center of the properties of the noble Gherardesca family ; the countess Franca Spalletti Trivelli (a Gherardesca), wife of the earl Clemente Zileri (who owned the Fattoria Poggio a Poppiano near Florence) inherited this estate of 130 ha (among which 50 ha of vineyards) from her mother.

The castle of Bolgheri

Federico Zileri

In 1997, Clemente and his son Federico Zileri began to replant the vineyard with noble grape varieties (essentially cabernet-sauvignon, merlot and some cabernet franc and syrah) , corresponding to the requirements of the DOC Bolgheri. The historic cellars of the castle are actually restored and should be ready for the vintage 2005. In the past, grandmother Alessandra della Gherardesca had already commercialised wine under the label of Castello di Bolgheri, and since they are owners of the castle the Zileri family obtained the right to continue to use this name under the DOC Bolgheri Superiore (this is exceptional, normally the name of the appellation can’t be used in the name of an estate in Italy).

The vineyard of Castello di Bolgheri

Grapes of the vintage 2004

The vineyards are located in the middle of those of Sassicaia, Ornellaia and San Guido, on an exceptional soil; moreover, Federico Zileri allows only the best quality for Castello di Bolgheri, the other cuvées are used for the second wine of Ornellaia (he decided also not to release Castello di Bolgheri in the vintages 2002 and 2003). The result is more than convincing: the first time we tasted the 2001, we were immediately impressed by the outstanding character and complexity of this wine, made of vines who were only 4 years old ...
How could we be surprised when this Castello di Bolgheri 2001 was rated 92/100 by Wine Spectator?