A.D.2015
2015 VINTAGE E XCLU SIVE T O CO RN E Y & B ARRO W I N THE UK , SINGAP O RE & THAI LAN D
“The next chapter in the life of this extraordinary wine.” GUY SEDDON
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Lodovico Antinori
LODOVICO 2015 This is the beginning of the future of Lodovico. This jewel of the Tenuta di Biserno estate now stands alone. Following its first vintage in 2007, Lodovico has broken into rarefied air. There are three things that make Lodovico special. The vineyard. Vigna Lodovico, a single plot of six hectares, in Bibbona, prime coastal Tuscany. It was discovered in 1995 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori, who originally envisaged it forming part of Ornellaia. It soon became apparent that these hilly, rocky slopes had a personality of their own, capable of making something unique. The man. Lodovico Antinori, creator of Ornellaia and scion of the Tuscan winemaking dynasty. Following the sale of Ornellaia in 2002, Lodovico, together with his brother Marchese Piero Antinori, founded this new estate. It is a personal project, very personal in fact, dedicated to the next generation, Lodovico’s daughter Sofia. The grape. Lodovico puts Cabernet Franc centre-stage. Just as Masseto has become a pinnacle of the Merlot grape's potential, Lodovico is on course to achieve the same with Cabernet Franc. A new winery is planned for the near future: a home for Lodovico. Further ahead, the sky is the limit.
GUY SEDDON July 2019
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THE VINEYARD: VIGNA LODOVICO “Vigna Lodovico yields remarkable and very particular results. It became immediately clear that this unique character and expression must be captured in one single wine.” HELENA LINDBERG, WINEMAKER
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The two vital accessories for a visit to Vigna Lodovico are sunglasses and an extra layer. The first thing you notice is the piercingly bright light. The second is the fresh sea breeze. The days here can be warm, but the nights are cool. Vigna Lodovico’s soils are a mix of clay and the mineralrich ‘Bolgheri conglomerate’. Cabernet Franc here has more in common with the right bank of Bordeaux than the Middle Loire, although there is an aromatic delicacy which evokes shades of both. Vigna Lodovico was planted in 2002, at a density of 6,500 vines per hectare. The vines are pruned to form spur cordons, trained on trellises. Grass between the rows restricts the plants' natural vigour.
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THE CELLAR This is the realm of Helena Lindberg, pictured above.
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Helena Lindberg, Winemaker
The grapes are selected on a vibrating sorting table, then destemmed and gently crushed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, following which 80% of the wine undergoes malolactic conversion in oak barrels. Lodovico is then aged for 16 months in new French oak barriques. It is bottled and released after a further 12 months.
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THE GROWING SEASON 2015 will be remembered as a truly great Tuscan vintage. The scene was set for the 2015 growing season by a mild winter, with enough rainfall to replenish the soil reserves. Budburst went well in these temperate conditions, with 11 just a little light rain. April was warmer, further stimulating growth. Flowering and fruit set occurred under similarly benign conditions. A heat wave in July momentarily disturbed the calm but temperatures decreased towards the end of the month, with welcome rain in August. These benevolent conditions continued through to a mild, largely dry September – perfect for gradual ripening of the grapes. Harvest took place between the first week of September and the second week of October. Winemaker Helena Lindburg described 2015 as a year in which it paid to be patient.
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TASTING NOTE LODOVICO 2015 Cabernet Franc, with a peppering of Petit Verdot. A glass-staining ruby colour. Red cherries, blackberries and mocha on the nose, complex and layered, with a promise of decadence... The powerful raspberryand blueberry-fruited palate is refined by a savoury leafiness, irony minerality and bitter chocolate, with rich, sweet spices lingering on the finish. The substantial, muscular tannins are plushly coated and offset against a fresh line of acidity. Not a hair out of place, stunning. Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2022 - 2037 £925/Case of 3 bottles, in bond UK £650/Case of 1 magnum, in bond UK £1450/Case of 1 jeroboam, in bond UK
Tasting Guide Our tasting notes provide full details but, at your request, we have also introduced a clear and simple marking system. We hope these guidelines assist you in your selection. For the benefit of simplicity, wines are scored out of 20. We will often use a range of scores (e.g. 16.5 to 17) to indicate the potential to achieve a higher mark. When a ‘+’ is shown it adds further to that potential. Wines from lesser vintages will, inevitably, show a lower overall score. Wines are judged, in a very broad sense, against their peers. Why? Well, you cannot easily compare a Ford with an Aston Martin, other than they are both cars and have wheels. It is not that different with wine. A score is a summary only. The devil is in the detail, so please focus on the tasting notes and, as always, speak to our sales team.
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