Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore

Grattamacco was the second winery to be founded in Bolgheri, after Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia), in 1977. Organically farming their vineyards, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. At 100m above sea level, they are higher than most Bolgheri estates. Giving them a slightly windier, drier microclimate than their peers.

This creates an environment in which sangioveses can thrive, unlike in the lower lying vineyards of Bolgheri in which it struggles in the more humid conditions. Like other Bolgheri estates, Grattamacco do still focus on Bordeaux varietals - 65% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. However, 15% is an unusually high proportion of sangiovese in the DO, making it a very unique wine for the area.

For Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore, the sangiovese is vinified in open top wooden vats. The cabernet and merlot in stainless steel. Manual punchdowns are carried out to ensure only a gentle extraction of tannin. The wine then ages for 18 months in French oak barriques, up to 40% of which are new, and a further 12 months in bottle.

• Dark fruit aromas and flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry and dark cherry
• Inviting aromatics redolent of menthol, Mediterranean herbs and rose petals
• Pronounced notes of graphite, liquorice, and cherry wood smoke