In Umbria, not far from the border with Tuscany, at about 18 kilometers from the historical city of Orvieto rises Castello della Sala, an imposing manor of medieval times, whose lands extend for 500 hectares, of which 170 hectares are planted with vines, halfway between the Paglia river and the peak of Mount Nibbio.
The 170 hectares of vineyards, cultivated with traditional varieties such as Procanico and Grechetto, as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sèmillon, Pinot Blanc, Viognier and a small percentage of Traminer and Riesling, are located at an altitude of 220 - 470 meters above sea level.
Castello della Sala is an area highly suited for the production of white wines with just one exception: Pinot Noir finds in this terroir the ideal conditions to express itself at its best. The area is characterized by a clayey and calcareous soil, rich in fossil shells, with vineyards well exposed to the sun and with excellent temperature range.
In the spring of 1979, at the age of 25 years old, agronomist Renzo Cotarella arrived at Castello della Sala.
He immediately began working on an ambitious project: to create a white wine capable of expressing itself over the years and evolving over time.
They experimented Chardonnay and they deepened their knowledge about the interesting Grechetto, capable of giving typicality and territoriality.
The search for a great wine capable of expressing character and personality becomes almost an obsession.
After a series of disappointing vintages, it was the 1985 vintage that gave the first real Cervaro della Sala: one of the first Italian wines to undergo malolactic fermentation and ageing in barriques.
The modern conception of the vinification cellar, designed to enhance the freshness and aromas of the grapes and to guarantee uncompromising quality, lives in harmony with the historic ageing cellar, dating back to the 16th century and located under the ancient stronghold of Castello della Sala.
Part of the Cervaro della Sala and Pinot Nero della Sala still rest in French oak barriques, protected by the thick walls of the fortress, which are able to maintain a naturally constant temperature and humidity.
Description
The "Muffato della Sala" from the Castello della Sala estate, owned by Marchesi Antinori, is a rare and precious pearl, produced in limited quantities. In fact, it is not a simple passito, but a muffato. This means that during the drying phase on the vine, the grapes are attacked and covered by the so-called noble rot, Botrytis Cinerea, capable of bringing an absolutely unique complexity and personality. This is a rather rare phenomenon on Italian soil, unlike the French Sauternes area, and Antinori's signature desire has been to push excellence to this precious liquid.
Organoleptic characteristics:
It shows a brilliant and intense golden yellow color. The bouquet is deep and complex, with hints of citrus fruits as well as delicate notes of peach, dried apricot and saffron. On the palate it is enveloping, sweet but not too much, slightly iodized, with a very long persistence. It is balanced even though it is young; a wine destined to evolve with time by increasing its aromatic complexity.
