Antinori Castello della Sala 2024 Conte della Vipera Umbria IGT 750ml

MarchesiAntinori needs no introduction in thecontext of Italian red wine —Tignanello, Solaia, Cervaro della Sala,Vin Santo — the family that has beenmaking wine since 1385, through26 generations, is mostinternationally associated with theTuscan reds that changed Italianwine history. But Castello dellaSala, the Antinori family's Umbrianestate purchased by Niccolò Antinori in1940, tells a differentand equally important story: thestory of what happens when one ofItaly's greatest winemaking familiesturns its full attention to whitewine.

The castle and its 600-hectareproperty sit about 18 kilometres fromthe historic city ofOrvieto in Umbria — the region's "greenheart," hemmed in by Tuscany,Lazio, and the Marche, without acoastline or international border,whose clay and calcareoussoils rich in marine fossils and whosedramatic day-to-night temperaturedifferentials make it one of Italy'smost specificallysuited environments for growingaromatic white varieties.Conte della Vipera — the Count of theViper — takes its name from theMonaldeschi della Vipera family, theoriginal proprietors of the medievalcastle, and its labelcarries an illustration of the13th-century San Giovanni Chapel thatstill stands on theestate. First produced in 1997, it hasbecome one of the most consistent andthe most specificallyUmbrian expressions of the SauvignonBlanc/Sémillon blend available from anyItalian producer.

The 2024 growingseason was among the mostfavorable in recent memory at Castellodella Sala. Mild winter, a moderatelyrainy spring that replenishedgroundwater, lower-than-average springtemperatures that prompted evenbudbreak and vine growth, and a hot,stable July and August withconsiderable day-to-night temperatureswings that ensured gradual and idealripening. The result, in Antinori's owntasting note: "intense fruity notes ofpink grapefruits and lycheesdominate the nose, leading over tofresh hints of limes and pineapples.The palate is elegant and lively with awell-balanced structure and crispfreshness. The finish is long andrefined, accentuated by hints ofpassion fruit, citrus fruit, and alight mineral note."

Origins & Craftsmanship

Marchesi Antinori has been makingwine without interruption since 1385,when Giovanni di PieroAntinori joined the Arte Fiorentina deiVinattieri — the Florentine Winemakers'Guild. Today the company is led byMarchese Piero Antinori as HonoraryPresident alongside histhree daughters Albiera, Allegra, andAlessia — the 26th generation of anunbroken family line. Castello dellaSala was acquired in1940 and has been developed across thedecades into one of Italy'smost celebrated white wine estates,culminating in the 1987 introduction ofCervaro della Sala, widely regarded asone of Italy's defining white wines.

Conte della Vipera, first produced in1997, draws from vineyards at 250 to350 metres above sea level within theCastello della Sala estate — sites onclay and calcareous soils rich inmarine fossils, with eastern andsoutheastern sun exposure and thedramatic diurnal temperature variationthat is the estate's most specificallyquality-determining climate feature.The vines grow in an area that Antinoridescribes as ideal for white varietiesin all but one exception: Pinot Noir,the sole red variety that has foundgenuinely ideal conditions here.

The2024 harvest was executed withAntinori's most meticulous precision.Hand-picked bunches were immediatelytransferred to the cellar and cooledvia refrigerated conveyor, preservingthe delicate varietal aromatics bylowering temperature before pressing.After soft pressing, the must wasclarified naturally at 10°C beforefermentation at a controlled 16°C instainless steel — a temperature regimespecifically designed to preserve everyvolatile aromatic compound of theSauvignon Blanc and allow the Sémillonto contribute its characteristic creamytexture and weight without the twovarieties losing their individualidentity. Refined in stainless steelbefore bottling without oak influence.

Critics Reviews

Nopublished numerical score is availablefor the 2024 vintage at this time.Scores from adjacent vintages forcontext:

Wine Spectator — 90 Points (multiple vintages):
"A sleek, zesty,mouthwatering white, light- tomedium-bodied and aromatic, with hintsof chive blossom, ripe apricot, flintand lemon peel. Offers a minerally,lip-smacking finish."

James Suckling — 90 Points (2021 vintage):
"This is a wonderfulimprovement, with bright lime and greenapple aromas. Medium-bodied, crisp andbright. So lemony at the end. 70%sauvignon blanc and 30% sémillon. Drinknow."

Luca Maroni — 93 Points

Robert Parker / Wine Advocate — 90 Points

Wine-Searcher aggregate — 90/100 (all vintages average)

Marchesi Antinori official 2024 tasting notes:
"Conte della Vipera 2024is a bright straw yellow colorwith delicate light green hues. Intensefruity notes of pink grapefruits andlychees dominate the nose and leadover to fresh hints of limes andpineapples. The palate is elegant andlively with a well-balanced structureand crispfreshness. The finish is long andrefined accentuated by hints ofpassion fruit, citrus fruit and a lightmineral note that enhances itscomplexity and liveliness."

Anthony Gismondi (prior vintage, house style):
"Fresh, savoury, aromaticsauvignon blends with asofter, supple, tropical sémillon. Onthe palate, an alluring green charactermixed with grapefruit and grassy notesall wrapped up in a refined,licorice-flecked jacket. Another winebuilt for food in that classic Italianway."

Vino.com (2024 vintage):
"Onthe palate it is well structured andharmonious, savory and sweet at thesame time, with an aftertastereminiscent of grapefruit."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Brightstraw yellow with delicate light greenhues — the stainless steel,low-temperature fermentation producinga color of genuine freshness andvitality. Pink grapefruit and lycheedominate the nose with the most vividand the most immediately expressivetropical-citrus aromatic combination —the 2024 vintage's favorable ripeningphase most directly apparent in theintensity and the luminosity of thefruit character. Fresh limes andpineapple follow, adding the most zestyand the most specifically livelysecondary citrus and tropicaldimension. Boxwood adds a specificallyherbaceous and the mostcharacteristically Sauvignon Blancsecondary note. White flowers andelderflower add delicate florallift from the estate's marine fossilsoils.

Palate
Elegant, lively,and well-balanced — the mostconsistently confirmed and the mostspecifically accurate characterizationof Conte della Vipera'spalate identity across every vintage.Crisp freshness drivesthe entry with vibrant,food-inviting acidity. The 80%Sauvignon Blanc component provides thestructural backbone of citrus, herbs,and minerality while the 20%Sémillon adds the most specificallycreamy texture and tropical softnessthat distinguishes this fromsingle-variety Sauvignon Blancs.Well-structured and harmonious, savoryand sweet simultaneously, with anaftertaste reminiscent of grapefruit.Chive blossom, ripe apricot, and flintadd complexity through the mid-palate.

Finish
Long and refined — passionfruit, citrus fruit, and a lightmineral note from the marine fossilsoils carrying the close with genuinelength and complexity. The mineral noteenhances the finish's liveliness — aspecifically Umbrian quality that addsrefinement without weight. A minerally,lip-smacking close that leaves thepalate genuinely refreshed and readyfor food.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Appetizers and antipasti — theproducer's own firstrecommendation
• First courses — pastawith delicate sauces, risotto withvegetables or seafood
• Fish andseafood
• Vegetable dishes
• Grilledwhite fish with lemon
• Goatcheese and fresh cheeses