Wine Advisor
Bibi Graetz, Colore 2018
View analysis
Description
Colore is the highest expression of Bibi Graetz dream, from very old vineyards of Sangiovese. Poor soils mixed with sand and stone and high altitude create the perfect terroir for a wine that tells a lot about Tuscany and its ancient taste. Only the best few barrels of the whole production will become Colore.
“2018 vintage was impressive and gave us pure grapes of very high quality. In fact, Colore 2018 is full of blue fruits, I can really feel the blackberries and the plum aroma standing out. The acidity together with the silky tannins play an important role in the center palate: they really sustain the wine till the end, where the aftertaste is long and pleasant. I am surprised since it really lasts for few minutes. I would say that complexity and pureness are the keywords this time. 2018 was definitely a superlative vintage, one of the best vintages ever produced.”----Bibi Graetz All over Tuscany 2018 had been a mild and stable vintage, with no extreme weather events and very moderate. The seasons were very balanced and the weather conditions excellent, in particular at the end of September, before the harvesting: sunny and dry days on a side, cool and fresh nights on the other. Therefore, 2018 tents to be considered a great vintage all over Tuscany characterized by a high level of harmony and balance. The generous rains granted a full vegetative development before summer which registered a balanced and perfect sun exposure. Harvest started by the end of September and lasted till mid-October.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Compared to the Testamatta that proved more difficult during the blending phase, Bibi Graetz's 2018 Colore came together without a hitch, as he tells it. With this vintage, the Colore (with 9,000 bottles produced) has almost become a single-vineyard wine, since up to 90% of its fruit comes from old vines (these are majestic plants from 80 to 135 years old) in the high-altitude Lamole area where Bibi farms five hectares. The addition of Colorino to this Sangiovese-based wine has been reduced to a mere 5% in this vintage: "Just like a touch of lipstick," Bibi says. The Colorino grape adds noticeable lift and buoyancy in this vintage. Next to the Testamatta, you get more structure and backbone here, with deep and penetrating red berry fruit, ruby cherry, crushed aspirin, ferrous earth, crushed flowers and some of the fragrant steeping herbs used in Fernet-Branca. My only hesitation is that the wine takes long to yield on the bouquet, and I coaxed two bottles of Colore over two days before writing this note. As a result, I recommend pushing the drinking window forward by a few extra years to give the wine time to flesh out and open fully.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The Bibi Graetz 2018 Colore has fruit from Lamole, Vincigliata, Siena and Bagno a Ripoli from sites at 400 meters above sea level. These higher-elevation plots, plus especially the Lamole fruit, add beautiful perfumes and freshness to the blend. This wine has it all, but compared to some of the younger vintages tasted in this vertical, the intensity is taken down a little lower in the 2018. This translates to fine tannins and a mid-weight mouthfeel. This wine is more immediate and perhaps a bit understated at this point in its evolution.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The pureness of fruit in this is so impressive with blueberries, blackberries and other blue fruit. It’s dense and layered with full and velvety tannins that give it a plush texture. Racy and beautiful. A vertical line runs through the center palate of tannins and acidity, adding brightness and focus. The finish lasts for minutes.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
What intense aromas of cherries and raspberries! Then it turns to flowers and orange peel. Roses, too. This is really full and powerful with layers of ripe tannins. It’s super fine-tannined, but shows wonderful length and intensity. A great expression of Lamole in Chianti Classico with ancient vines. Some older than 100 years. Best ever? Superb. Try after 2024 and onwards.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is the best ever with incredible depth and focus. The polished tannins display energy and balance. Everything is together. Blackberry, black cherry, mushroom and wet earth. Goes on for minutes. So approachable, but one for the cellar. Mostly from Lamole. Superb.
About the Producer
Bibi Graetz is one of the best wine producers in Tuscany, which has become famous for its Soffocone di Vincigliata, Colore, Testamatta Rosso and Bianco wines. Its grapes come from vines of about 80 years of age, the autochthonous: Sangiovese, Colorino and Cannaiolo. The Bibi Graetz estate is located in Vincigliata, a small village behind the Fiesole hill.
2003(2)2004(1)2005(1)2007(4)2008(4)2009(3)2010(2)2011(1)2015(71)2016(141)
Package Size
1 x 15L1 x 3L1 x 75cl3 x 75cl
