About this wine
Grapes
Petit Verdot, more commonly used as a component in blends, is used here on its own; wines made entirely from the variety are rare.
Vinification
Fermentation takes place in French oak barrels.
Ageing
The wine remains in French oak barrels for 16–18 months following fermentation, then completes its maturation in bottle.
Tasting profile
The palate is rich and fruity, with firm tannins. Oak, vanilla and spice appear on both the nose and palate.
Label / history
The name A Solo refers to Petit Verdot’s solitary role in the wine. It originated as an experiment by Guicciardini Strozzi.
The Guicciardini Strozzi-owned Cusona estate stands on the banks of the Elsa River, along the route from Paris to Rome. Its earliest historical references date to 994, when it belonged to the Bibbiano family. By the early 15th century, the estate’s then owners, the Bardi family, were cultivating vines at Cusona and producing wine from Vernaccia.
A century later, Count Girolamo Guicciardini married a member of the Bardi family and assumed control of Cusona, which has remained with the Guicciardini family ever since. Francesco Guicciardini, who served as Minister of Agriculture, managed the estate for three years from 1906.
The histories of the Strozzi and Guicciardini families are closely associated with the Renaissance, a connection reflected in Palazzo Strozzi and in their documented ties to the Medici family.
