Wine Advisor
Grattamacco, Bolgheri Superiore 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The superb Grattamacco 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco (a certified organic wine) is balanced and intense, yet it remains faithful to a medium-plus texture that never feels weighed down. That's one of the best qualities of this classical vintage: you get the power of the fruit with contained concentration and extraction. The bouquet is alive with blackcurrants, cherry, spice and hints of campfire ember. This is one of the jewels of Bolgheri. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese (with 60,000 bottles made). It ferments in conical oak vats with ambient yeasts and manual push-downs and ages in barrique for 18 months.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is at a different level, with blackcurrants, blueberries and Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and sage. Also tobacco and coffee bean. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a persistent finish. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. A new quality level with this wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese. Give this three to five years.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A unique wine with power, grace and elegant tannins. Aromas of leather, cedar, kiwis, restrained cassis and Mediterranean nuances. Full-bodied with a lot of weight and power, showing ripe, velvety tannins, crisp acidity, a tight-knit structure and a polished aftertaste. Warm yet super balanced, savory and vibrant. Drink or hold.
About the Producer
Grattamacco founded in 1977, the Estate lies in a protected area on one of Bolgheri’s only two hills, a location famous for its ancient history, and the particular soil here is of utmost importance. Grattamacco is part of the ColleMassari group since 2002. In Bolgheri, Grattamacco’s signature style of elegance over power is obtained from the inclusion of a small percentage of Sangiovese in the blend, together with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all grown at a relatively high altitude of 100 to 200 meters above sea level. A single vineyard was planted in 2004, located on the plain with a terroir mix of silt and red sandy soils. The estate is situated in a protected spot on the hills of Bolgheri facing the sea at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters above sea level. The Estate was the first to plant Vermentino in Bolgheri with the oldest vineyard from 1986 and still fully in production. Today, the Grattamacco estate counts 80 hectares, 29 of which are vineyards, 4 of which are olive groves, surrounded by a vast woodland that moderates the Tyrrhenian sea’s winds, for a drying effect that allows the estate to work sustainably. Red wines grape varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot White wines grape varieties: 100% Vermentino A traditional winemaking approach from low-yield sustainable vineyards. All grapes are hand-harvested and then spontaneously fermented in conical open oak vats of 7hl or stainless steel tanks depending on the wine, with very long macerations. All wines are aged in French oak barriques, from new to second passage.
