Grattamacco

Bolgheri Superiore

Cabernet Sauvignon-based Blends
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore

POS Materials

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Grattamacco

Bolgheri Superiore

Cabernet Sauvignon-based Blends

Grattamacco’s Bolgheri Rosso Superiore is iconic in Bolgheri, Italy, and beyond. The flagship wine of the estate, this was the second important wine to come from the Bolgheri area following Sassicaia. Grattamacco was founded in 1977 and was the second winery of the Bolgheri appellation, following Sassicaia.The winery lies on a rise between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri, with a panoramic view of the Tuscan coast. The Grattamacco vineyards are located at about 330 ft. above sea level, in a wonderfully protected plot that spans over one of Bolgheri's only two hills, and is surrounded by other internationally renowned Bolgheri properties. 

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Tasting Notes

The bouquet opens with striking aromatic intensity, layered with ripe wild red fruits lifted by balsamic tones and Mediterranean herbs. As it evolves, delicate mineral nuances emerge, adding depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine is powerful yet refined—fresh, voluminous, and beautifully balanced, where broad minerality meets fine, enveloping tannins. The finish is long and resonant, promising elegance, harmony, and a remarkable capacity to age gracefully.

Food Pairing

Goes well with game, as e.g. local preparations of wild boar, roast, braised and stewed red meats, and medium aged cheese.

Grattamacco’s Bolgheri Rosso Superiore is iconic in Bolgheri, Italy, and beyond. The flagship wine of the estate, this was the second important wine to come from the Bolgheri area following Sassicaia. Grattamacco was founded in 1977 and was the second winery of the Bolgheri appellation, following Sassicaia.The winery lies on a rise between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri, with a panoramic view of the Tuscan coast. The Grattamacco vineyards are located at about 330 ft. above sea level, in a wonderfully protected plot that spans over one of Bolgheri's only two hills, and is surrounded by other internationally renowned Bolgheri properties. 

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Tasting Notes

The bouquet opens with striking aromatic intensity, layered with ripe wild red fruits lifted by balsamic tones and Mediterranean herbs. As it evolves, delicate mineral nuances emerge, adding depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine is powerful yet refined—fresh, voluminous, and beautifully balanced, where broad minerality meets fine, enveloping tannins. The finish is long and resonant, promising elegance, harmony, and a remarkable capacity to age gracefully.

Food Pairing

Goes well with game, as e.g. local preparations of wild boar, roast, braised and stewed red meats, and medium aged cheese.

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Download Bottle Shot Download Acclaim Linkout
98
POINTS
Pouring a dark magenta, the 2021 Grattamacco is fruity and floral with aromas of lavender oils, plum, mocha, incense, and sweet earth. Full-bodied, it has refreshing acidity, defined, ripe tannins, ad a good finish. It has a lot of potential and should improve and stand the test of time. It’s fantastically detailed.
Jeb Dunnuck
97
POINTS
A unique wine with power, grace and elegant tannins. Aromas of leather, cedar, kiwis, restrained cassis and Mediterranean nuances. Full-bodied with a lot of weight and power, showing ripe, velvety tannins, crisp acidity, a tight-knit structure and a polished aftertaste. Warm yet super balanced, savory and vibrant.
James Suckling
97
POINTS
This is at a different level, with blackcurrants, blueberries and Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and sage. Also tobacco and coffee bean. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a persistent finish. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. A new quality with this wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese.
James Suckling
96
POINTS
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.
Wine Advocate
96
POINTS
“Blueberry, black currant and pomegranate flavors are accented by oak spice, graphite and rosemary notes in this fresh, long red. Taut and vibrant, with terrific balance and a fine-grained band of tannins lining the finish”
Wine Spectator
95
POINTS
“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.”
Vinous
“Mid to dark crimson. Very complete and with a little less obvious tannin than the 2016. Already very approachable and well balanced with a chalky texture on the end. Really charming with a little light inkiness. Long, and fresher than 2016.” – 18 points
Jancis Robinson
“Very sappy and appetising and interesting on the nose with a well-integrated assemblage of three grapes. But on the palate it seems notably more youthful than its peers – or perhaps it’s the extra acidity and tannin of the Sangiovese? Interesting.” – 17++/20 
Jancis Robinson

Vineyard & Production Info

Training method:
Guyot Cordon Spur-pruned
Elevation:
330-720 feet
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
1989-2002
Harvest time:
late September
First vintage of this wine:
1979
Bottles produced of this wine:
65,000
Average Vine Age:
24 years

Winemaking & Aging

Maceration length:
28
Varietal composition:
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Sangiovese
Fermentation container:
conical oak vat
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
15 days
Fermentation temperature:
75-86 °F
Maceration technique:
Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Fining agent:
no fining
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
21 months
Age of Aging Container:
30%new oak, 50% second use, 20% third use
Length of bottle aging:
6 months
Total SO2:
65

Analytical Data

pH level:
3.48
Acidity:
5.5 g/L
Alcohol:
14.5 %
Dry extract:
30.3 g/L
Total SO2:
65
Residual sugar:
0.5 g/L

About the Vineyard

A wine produced from vineyards at 100 and 200 m. asl, where the soil is characterized by calcareous sandstone, marl and calcareous flysch mixed to clay. The climate is temperate Mediterranean with frequent sea breezes.

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Barrel Samples
Vineyards
Subsoil
Luca Marrone Chief enologist of Grattamacco
Barrel Samples
Vineyards
Subsoil
Luca Marrone Chief enologist of Grattamacco