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A Note from Sergio
They may rank among the world's best-loved wines, but Super Tuscans haven't been around that long. And yet, if Sassicaia's 1968 debut was the shot heard 'round the world, then Grattamacco's 1982 release was the Battle of Concord. Maybe it wasn't the start of the revolution, but it certainly indicated which way history was turning.
Founded in 1978 by former 3-M executive Piermario Meletti Cavallari, Grattamacco seems as if it has always been there. This estate's plain in Bolgheri is a perfect site to grow fantastic Sangiovese. The sun is bright for over two-thirds a year and the wind never stops blowing. It's warm during the day, chilly at night and constantly breezy, and these conditions help the Sangiovese vines, as well as their neighboring Cabernet Sauvignon, soak up that Marrema terroir. Cavallari, along with enologist Maurizio Castelli and winemaker Luca Maronna, chooses to grow his grapes organically, something that reinforces the authentic quality of Grattamacco's wines.
Over the past almost thirty years, Grattamacco has tinkered a lot. It's one of the points that makes Grattamacco the winery that it is. It can't ever stop playing. They've toyed with the composition of their wines, the way they harvest their grapes, even the way they sort them. It's a sign of the intellectual, scientific side of this estate, yet it adds to the enjoyment of Grattamacco's wines. Different vintages represent not only varying growing conditions; they also embody different points in the estate's evolution.
For example, the estate's flagship wine today is a fifty-fifty blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. That's not how it started. It used to be mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and a tiny bit of Sangiovese. It was a very good wine, and it's one that I'm delighted to offer to you today--two vintages over a decade apart and both at exceptional pricing. The amazing thing about Grattamacco is their ability to make beautiful, age-worthy wines that could only come from this particular corner of Bolgheri. If you've never had the opportunity to taste a vintage Super-Tuscan wine, I can't think of a better opportunity, and if you have, then you're familiar with the pleasure of this indulgence. Either way, you're in for a treat. Vintage Grattamacco: it doesn't get much more delicious, accessible and historic than this.
My Best,
P.S. You can now follow me on Twitter: @Italian_Wine_SE.
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