Grattamacco, Bolgheri Superiore, 2021
The estate consider this a Grattamacco of “remarkable energy and vitality.” The product of a rainy winter, hot and dry summer, and sunny September, 2021 is an excellent Tuscan vintage and Grattamacco is a prime example. A hint of youthful oak but more than compensated for by a wealth of crisp, rich smoky cassis fruit with a refreshing saline edge and a touch of mineral graphite. Full bodied but pure and honest, beautifully composed. 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 30% new barrels.
critic reviews
A bold, sweeping wine, the 2021 Grattamacco is pretty impressive. Readers should expect a potent, extroverted red with tons of Bolgheri opulence. There’s plenty of supporting structure too, but at this stage it’s the wine’s intense, ripe profile that carries the day. A blast of blackberry, scorched earth, new leather, licorice and incense saturates the palate on the long, sustained finish.
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.