Gianfranco and Graziella Soldera fell in love with this beautiful but abandoned and uncultivated estate in the early 1970s. They purchased the land and immediately devoted themselves to it aiming to make a Brunello di Montalcino of the very highest quality, in the process respecting the vineyards, nature and allowing the ecosystem it sits within to flourish. Today the place is harmonious, beautiful and peaceful, and the wines have become something of a legend. Soldera is produced from just seven organically managed hectares, it is made in a traditional style, fermented in oak tanks using wild yeasts and only estate-grown grapes, before ageing for 5 years in large Slavonian oak casks. The wines are what Brunello di Montalcino always used to be, before over ripeness, heavy new oak ageing and extraction became fashionable: They are beautifully elegant and nuanced, whilst refined and reserved they are complex, sophisticated and powerful but immensely drinkable. Every sip gently reveals another layer, another character and the wine is fresh and delicate enough to keep you wanting more. Robert Parker has said of this wine: “At their best, these are some of the most profound wines being made anywhere on the planet.” This is certainly the region’s shining star. Gianfranco left the Brunello DOCG in 2006 so all vintages from 2007 onwards are now labelled as IGT Toscana Sangiovese, Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera. There is no change to the wine inside the bottle. The origin and making of the wine are the same, only the label has changed.