2022 Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala 'Cervaro della Sala' Umbria IGT

About the Wine

The history in Umbria is a proud one that stretches back to the Etruscans. The Antinori family came to Umbria in the 1950s to produce high-quality white wines. They already had Tuscan Sangiovese estates, but Umbria, and in particular, the area around Orvieto, had been known since the Roman era as the best place to make outstanding white wines. The vines are so old, the local varietal is referred to as "Grechetto", or the little grape that the Greeks brought to Enotria. 

The Antinori family has been committed to the art of winemaking for over six centuries since 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member, of the “Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri”, the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. 

"We have demonstrated, over the years, that in Tuscany and in Umbria there was the possibility of producing excellent wines, widely recognized at an international level, which showed both elegance and finesse while maintaining their original character," says Piero Antinori.

Marchesi Antinori Castello Della Sala 'Cervaro della Sala' has been produced for almost 40 years. The name Cervara is to honor the previous estate owners, the Monaldeschi della Cervara. 

Castello della Sala sits above huge caves carved out of the hills. This huge medieval castle dates from 1350 and is composed of 1482 acres, of which 495 are planted with white varieties and Pinot Noir.  The vineyard is located on gently rolling hillsides, planted on calcareous soil, and rich in fossils. Pinot Noir is grown at the top of the hill.

This castle was acquired during a time when many large wineries from outside the region started to purchase land at low prices. Castello Della Sala was in ruins when it was purchased. However, after years of hard work, and the expertise Renzo Cotarella, this property became one of the emblematic Antinori estates, known to produce some of the world's greatest Italian white wines. 

This beautiful blend of Chardonnay with Grechetto is unique. This was one of the first Italian white wines to undergo malolactic fermentation and also one of the first ones to age in barrels. The result is amazing, a complex and elegant wine, that’s meant to age for a long time.

The winery also makes a Muffato Nobile, which is one of the best sweet ones in the region with incredible aging potential.

Tasting Notes

A blend of Chardonnay grapes and a small percentage of Grechetto.  
Certainly one of the finest Chardonnays produced in all of Italy and this wine fares well in a blind tasting with top Meursault and Grand Cru Montrachet. If you haven't had a chance to taste this wine,  you're missing one of the top 10 greatest white wines in all of Italy. Year after year, it's just stunning wine to age.

Critical Reviews

Attractive nose of ripe mangoes, pineapple and grilled lemons with some toasty, nutty notes and hints of smoky minerality. Cardamom and pie crust, too. It’s full-bodied, nervy and juicy, with bright acidity and savory nuances. It’s layered and long and it builds up on the palate, with vibrant, spicy notes of candied ginger, dried lemons and bitter citrus peel. Truly the Montrachet of Italy. Drink or hold. ~98 James Suckling

This is Marchesi Antinori's top white wine, and it comes from the region of Umbria. The Castello della Sala 2022 Cervaro della Sala is based on Chardonnay and has a small part of the local grape Grechetto in the blend. The nose opens to a reductive note of flint or matchstick, but it lifts quickly to reveal soft orchard fruit, white peach and minty apple. There are delicately applied toasted notes with a hint of pecan or macadamia nut. To finish, you also get salty mineral notes that underline the extremely vertical or lifted personality of the bouquet. Renzo Cotarella tells me that tweaks to winemaking in recent years have attempted "to slim down the wine and not make it any bigger." This was a hot vintage, but Cervaro della Sala remains true to its leaner and meaner blueprint. However, given its accessible personality, we could expect a shorter drinking window for the 2022s. ~94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 Cervaro della Sala opens with a seductive bouquet as vanilla bean and crushed almond evolve into a blend of yellow apples, chamomile, mint and cardamom. It floods the palate with silken waves of ripe pit fruits and spices. Tactile mineral tones build tension over a core of brisk acidity. Balanced and refined, the 2022 cleans up beautifully structured and long with a citrusy concentration and salty flourish that lingers long. This is a stunning Cervaro della Sala built for the cellar despite its deeply alluring state. ~94 Vinous Media

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