A wine that teaches you so much about how Grattamacco approach winemaking. There is always the danger with Cabernet blends that they veer towards too much power and not enough nuance, particularly in hotter climes and in warmer vintages such as 2015. Yet, as richly fruited as it is, the 2015 Grattmacco is such a harmonious, juicy and flowing wine. Certainly a very serious effort, bold and well-structured with tight-grained tannins, but so flowing and seamless too. Beautifully weighted notes of sweet cassis and kirsch counteracted by more savoury elements of earth, cedar and rosemary. Deep and brooding underneath that silken veil but without being taciturn. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese the special grey clay, marl and limestone soils here help give their Sangiovese a certain depth. From vineyards on steep slopes in the hills 100 metres above sea level and made in a gently-extracted way this is a complex Bolgheri designed for unadulterated drinking pleasure rather than for the trophy cabinet. The wine was aged for 21 months in barriques (40% new,) as opposed to the usual 18 months, with a further 12 months’ refinement in bottle.
This was the second winery to be founded in Bolgheri in 1977 after Tenuta San Guido of Sassicaia fame. The 14 hectares of organically farmed vineyard are situated on top of a hill, facing the sea, between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri - 100m above sea level. This unusually high altitude, for Bolgheri at least, and its inland location means that this part of the region is windier and less humid. Ordinarily Sangiovese cannot grow in Bolgheri due to it being very sensitive to humid conditions, however, in Grattamacco’s micro climate it thrives. This is therefore one of the rare wines from the Tuscan coast to have any Sangiovese in it, to the tune of 15%, adding verve to the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The wine is aged for 18 months in barriques, up to a maximum of 40% new barrels.
61 St. James's Street, London SW1A 1LZ
Reg. Company No: 68576
AWRS URN: XPAW00000105319
Please do not share with anyone under the legal purchase age for alcohol.
Drink Responsibly www.drinkiq.com
© Justerini & Brooks 2024. All Rights Reserved.