Allegrini La Poja 2018

Allegrini La Poja 2018

 

Zoom Mouse over image to zoom
Allegrini
La Poja 2018
  • Vintage : 2018
  • Country : Italy
  • Region : Veneto
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Fruity Medium Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,9°
  • Grappes : 100% Corvina

The Allegrini La Poja is a prestigious single-vineyard wine from Valpolicella, showcasing the elegance and power of 100% Corvina Veronese.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 92 2018
DCT Decanter 96 2016
WE Wine Enthusiast 95 2016
JS James Suckling 95 2016
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

La Poja is produced from a small 3-hectare vineyard in the Valpolicella Classica region, located in the heart of Allegrini’s estate. The vineyard sits atop a single plot with a southeast aspect, which maximizes sun exposure, essential for full phenolic ripeness in the Corvina grape. This elevated site is characterized by calcareous, stony soils, providing excellent drainage and adding minerality to the wine. The vines, over 40 years old, are trained in the Double Guyot system, enhancing the concentration and intensity of the grapes.

The unique terroir of La Poja creates an ideal environment for Corvina Veronese to thrive, yielding grapes with rich, complex flavors and a balanced acidity that supports the wine’s aging potential. The vineyard's limited size allows for meticulous vine management and a focused expression of the land’s characteristics.

Winemaking

The La Poja undergoes a precise vinification process, beginning with a manual harvest in early October, ensuring that only perfectly ripe grapes are selected. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures ranging from 22°C to 31°C over 12 to 15 days, with regular pumping over to enhance extraction. This fermentation technique helps develop the intense color, tannin structure, and aromatic complexity that define the wine.

After fermentation, the wine is aged in new French oak barriques for 20 months, followed by an additional 8 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. This dual oak maturation process allows the wine to gain structure and complexity, with subtle notes of vanilla and spice from the oak while preserving the purity of Corvina's fruit. Finally, the wine spends 10 more months in bottle before release, achieving a harmonious balance of flavors and aromas.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep ruby red with violet hues.
  • Aroma: Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and bramble, layered with violet, dried rose, black pepper, vanilla, and forest floor notes.
  • Palate: Full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins, ripe black fruit, and a long, spicy finish that showcases the minerality from the calcareous soils.

Did You Know?

La Poja is Allegrini's most exclusive wine, produced from a single vineyard with exceptional terroir. The wine is crafted to age gracefully for over 18 years, evolving in complexity and depth with time.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Roasted venison with blackberry sauce: The gamey flavors of venison complement the wine’s ripe black fruit and spicy notes.
  • Truffle risotto: The earthy aromas of truffle pair well with the wine’s forest floor notes and rich texture.
  • Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano: The cheese’s nuttiness enhances the wine’s depth and structure.
  • Duck breast with cherry reduction: The fruitiness of the cherry reduction mirrors the black cherry notes in the wine.

Across the range and from vintage to vintage, they have superb fruit, balance, intensity, length, elegance, tipicity and, above all, drinkability.

Allegrini history

Each wine has winemaker Franco Allegrini’s distinct stamp of quality, but every one has its own distinctive character. They are among the elite of the world’s best producers of red wines. The family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations, and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini.

When he died in 1983, it passed to his three children, who ran it together until Walter’s death in July 2003. Franco now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker, while Marilisa is director of marketing.

From the 2007 vintage, Franco sacrificed the Classico status of the Valpolicella and bottled the wine under Stelvin in order to eliminate as much as possible the problems of cork taint and random oxidation.

Allegrini vineyards

Their south-east facing vineyards are located in the hills of the Valpolicella Classico region ranging from 150-250 metres above sea level for the Valpolicella to as high as 310 metres at the top of Podere La Grola where the chalky, white La Poja vineyard stretches across 2.65 hectares.

Soils are very varied but mostly chalky, of volcanic origin, especially in La Poja where the soil is 78% chalk. The older vineyards are trained using the pergola Trentina system, planted with about 3,000 vines per hectare, whereas the newer ones use the single Guyot system with 5,000 plants per hectare. The vines are 28 years old on average.

Robert Parker (RP) : 92 Points (2018)
The Allegrini 2018 Corvina Veronese La Poja (with 14,000 bottles made) delivers lots of ripe fruit with baked cherry, plum and earthy notes of wet clay, terracotta and rusty nail. This vintage lacks some of the extreme clarity and focus that the Corvina grape is very capable of giving. The growing season saw a cool spring and heat spikes throughout the summer that contribute to the large span of random fruit aromas on offer here.

Decanter (DCT) : 96 Points (2016)
In 1979, Giovanni Allegrini planted La Grola with all Corvina under Guyot instead of the pergola training system. At the top of this stunning hill of limestone, Franco Allegrini in 1983 foresaw the potential of the 2.6ha plot, 'La Poja' to be bottled as a single vineyard. Here the Corvina 'graspo rosso' clone, richer in colour, achieved perfect ripening and concentration without the need for appassimento. Picked just 10 days later than La Grola and aged in new French oak for a minimum of 20 months, this is one of the top wines from Allegrini. Raspberry and dark cherry fruit integrate with smashed black pepper and cocoa powder in depth. Curry and clove introduce a spicy and savoury palate with dense, graceful tannins and firm yet integrated acidity. Its exotic flavours last for minutes.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 95 Points (2016)
Aromas of cassis, camphor, French oak and blue flowers form the expressive nose. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the smooth, delicious palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, spiced blueberry, licorice and tobacco. It's well-balanced, with taut, refined tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2021–2031.

James Suckling (JS) : 95 Points (2016)
Beautiful transparency to this with blackberry, blueberry, violet and black-olive aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, chewy and polished with creamy texture. Lots of blue fruit at the finish. Better in 2023 and onwards.

Allegrini La Grola 2019
Allegrini La Grola 2019
Allegrini
La Grola 2019
WE
93
VN
93
JS
93
The Allegrini La Grola is a refined and expressive red wine from Valpolicella, showcasing the elegance of 90% Corvina Veronese and 10% Oseleta.
34,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
Allegrini
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
RP
93
WE
93
DCT
95
The Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a bold, full-bodied wine, made in the traditional appassimento method, which brings richness and complexity to the forefront.
89,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
105,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
We also suggest...
Italy
93 Wine Enthusiast
Allegrini La Grola 2019
Allegrini La Poja 2018
The Allegrini La Grola is a refined and expressive red wine from Valpolicella, showcasing the elegance of 90% Corvina Veronese and 10% Oseleta.
La Poja 2018
34,00 €
Italy
96 Wine Enthusiast
Sottimano Pajore Barolo 2018
Sottimano La Poja 2018
La Poja 2018
85,00 €
USA
91 Wine Enthusiast
DAOU Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2022
DAOU Vineyards La Poja 2018
DAOU Reserve Chardonnay is an elegant and opulent expression of California winemaking, blending tropical richness with balanced acidity, crafted by the meticulous artistry of Daniel Daou.
La Poja 2018
48,90 €
Australia
96+ Robert Parker
Cullen Diana Madeline 2021
Cullen La Poja 2018
An iconic Australian wine, the 2021 Diana Madeline reveals vibrant aromas and intense flavors, crafted with Cullen’s unwavering commitment to biodynamic viticulture and sustainability.
La Poja 2018
125,00 €
Chile
95 James Suckling
Tabali Talinay Pinot Noir 2021
Tabali La Poja 2018
A crystalline expression of Chile’s coastal terroir, this Pinot Noir from Talinay captures freshness, minerality, and elegance in every sip.
La Poja 2018
28,50 €
Australia
98 Robert Parker
Chambers Rosewood Rare Muscadelle
Chambers Rosewood La Poja 2018
Chambers Rosewood Rare Muscadelle is a masterpiece of Rutherglen’s fortified wine heritage, offering extraordinary depth, intensity, and a taste of history in every sip.
La Poja 2018
250,00 €