Grattamacco 2021

Tasting notes and advice for Grattamacco 2021

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a deep, brilliant dark ruby-red hue with magenta highlights.

Nose
The nose opens with beautiful aromatic intensity, revealing ripe wild red fruits, notably blackcurrant, blueberry and pomegranate. Balsamic notes and Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and sage add a savory dimension. As it aerates, the bouquet evolves toward aromas of tobacco, coffee, lavender, plum and incense. Delicate mineral nuances gradually emerge, adding depth and complexity to the aromatic expression.

Palate
On the palate, Grattamacco 2021 expresses a powerful yet refined character. Freshness and volume are harmoniously balanced, with broad minerality meeting fine, enveloping tannins. The wine is full-bodied, with a refreshing acidity that brings definition and length. Flavors of dark and blue fruits, black cherry, blackberry syrup and spices unfold over a silky, ultra-fine tannic structure. The mid-palate shows substantial concentration with notes of forest floor. The finish is remarkably long and resonant, with chalky, resilient tannins that provide structure without harshness.

Food and wine pairings

This Bolgheri Superiore 2021 pairs perfectly with game dishes, especially braised, roasted or slow-cooked wild boar. It also goes very well with roasted or braised red meats, long-simmered stews and bold, aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Grattamacco 2021 can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2043. Decanting for one hour will allow the wine to reveal its full aromatic complexity.

A pioneering Bolgheri Superiore from the hills of Tuscany

The estate

Founded in 1977 by Piermario Meletti Cavallari, Grattamacco is the second estate established in the Bolgheri appellation, just after Sassicaia. Since 2002, the property has belonged to Claudio Tipa of the ColleMassari Group. The estate covers 80 hectares, including 34 hectares of vines located at around one hundred meters above sea level on one of Bolgheri’s only two hills. Grattamacco is recognized as a pioneer for maintaining Sangiovese in its blend and for being the first to plant Vermentino in the region. Under the direction of winemaker Luca Marrone since 2003, the estate practices certified organic viticulture and minimalist winemaking that respects the authentic expression of the terroir.

The vineyard

The Bolgheri Superiore vineyard benefits from an elevated, sheltered position between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri, offering panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vines, averaging twenty-five years of age, are planted on exceptional soils composed of white clays and flysch, geological formations resulting from the evaporation of an ancient salt lake more than five million years ago. These white clays have a remarkable water-retention capacity and give the wines a distinctive saline imprint as well as pronounced minerality. The dry Mediterranean microclimate, characterized by significant temperature variations at the end of summer, is moderated by the nearby sea and the protection of the surrounding forests. About 50% of the grapes come from the Casavecchia vineyard, located at higher altitude north of Castagneto Carducci, bringing freshness and balance to the blend.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Tuscany proved complex and unpredictable. Until mid-May, temperatures remained unusually low, slowing vine growth. From the second half of May onward, a sudden rise in temperatures combined with humid winds accelerated growth unevenly. Rainfall between mid-August and early September proved decisive for final quality, preventing ripening from stalling and restoring balance in the bunches. Harvest began on August 25 and continued through September 24, with several passes needed to pick the grapes at optimal ripeness. The last Cabernet Sauvignon lots were pressed on November 24 after extended maceration. Yields remained average, neither particularly abundant nor severely restricted.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Grattamacco 2021 are harvested by hand, with rigorous selection carried out in the vineyard. Winemaking follows an essentialist approach that favors minimal intervention. Fermentations occur spontaneously, without temperature control, in small truncated-cone oak vats, with regular manual punch-downs allowing long, gentle macerations to extract fine, perfectly ripe tannins. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French barrels, kept separate for each grape variety. For the 2021 vintage, the Piedmontese technique was applied to certain vats, involving extended post-fermentation maceration with the addition of wine from another vinification to bring extra roundness and body. The wine then matured for eighteen months in French oak barrels before being bottled in August 2023.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon (65%)
Merlot (20%)
Sangiovese (15%)