Grattamacco, Bolgheri, Superiore 2018

Moving to the 2018 Grattamacco, this vintage is more classic in its expression and marked with finesse. While the summer was quite hot, it cooled at the end of August, with 60 mm of rain and an abrupt cold snap that slowed maturity, so they had to be quite patient waiting for the grapes to get ripe. The Sangiovese is very important in this vintage for its acidity. In the glass, it pours an almost identical, perhaps slightly more youthful red brick color, and it’s fresh and pretty on the nose, with a detailed perfume of fresh herbs, flowers, cherries, and redcurrants. The palate is refreshing and more vertical but not lacking ripeness, with fine tannins and a spine of refreshing acidity. Its characteristic saltiness frames the wine as it floats off the palate, with a mintiness on the backplate. I personally would be thrilled to drink this wine over the coming 15 or more years.

The 2018 Grattamacco is the most elegant, refined and satisfying wine I have ever tasted from Grattamacco. There is a level of finesse here that is simply unreal. Bright and translucent, with tons of detail, the 2018 oozes with pedigree. Lavender, spice, mint, tobacco and dried flowers add an attractive upper register.

Coming on the heels of the scorching hot 2017, this vintage started off with lots of rain in April and May that required preventative measures against fungal disease. Splendid heat and sunshine marked the summer months, but the freshness you taste in this wine is a beautiful characteristic of this cooler growing season. The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco reveals a finely nuanced bouquet with dark fruit, tobacco, smoke and earthy garrigue or underbrush. The wine leans toward full-bodied, but it also feels quite elegant and crisp on the streamlined finish.

Currants, blackberries and hints of chocolate and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and round-tannined with a lovely texture and a savory, almost iron finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese. From organically grown grapes. Hard not to drink now, but a year or two will bring it even more together.