Grattamacco

L'Alberello Bolgheri Superiore

Grattamacco

L'Alberello Bolgheri Superiore

Grattamacco was founded in 1977 and was the second winery of the Bolgheri appellation, following Sassicaia. Grattamacco has lead the region in environmentally responsible farming, and was the first to use an Alberello or head-pruned method in Bolgheri. 

Wine Production

The three varieties are harvested together on the same day, creating a blend that spontaneously ferments in small oak truncated cone vats with manual punching down and long maceration with indigenous yeast. This wine is aged for 16 months in oak barriques prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes

Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore L'Alberello shows a deep purple core with ruby reflections. The wine is generous and silky on the palate with rich aromas and flavors of wild blackberries and plums, black pepper, and balsamic. The structure is defined by dense, yet soft tannins and a mouthwatering acidity that is marked by a sense of saltiness. A long and harmonious finish presupposes a very long life of development.

Food Pairing

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

Grattamacco was founded in 1977 and was the second winery of the Bolgheri appellation, following Sassicaia. Grattamacco has lead the region in environmentally responsible farming, and was the first to use an Alberello or head-pruned method in Bolgheri. 

Wine Production

The three varieties are harvested together on the same day, creating a blend that spontaneously ferments in small oak truncated cone vats with manual punching down and long maceration with indigenous yeast. This wine is aged for 16 months in oak barriques prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes

Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore L'Alberello shows a deep purple core with ruby reflections. The wine is generous and silky on the palate with rich aromas and flavors of wild blackberries and plums, black pepper, and balsamic. The structure is defined by dense, yet soft tannins and a mouthwatering acidity that is marked by a sense of saltiness. A long and harmonious finish presupposes a very long life of development.

Food Pairing

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

Vineyard & Production Info

Soil composition:
silt soil,browny and red clay
Training method:
alberello (sapling) bush vine
Elevation:
165 feet
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
2004
Harvest time:
September 23rd-24th
Average Vine Age:
14

Winemaking & Aging

Maceration length:
21 days
Varietal composition:
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Fermentation container:
conical oak vat
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
15 days
Fermentation temperature:
75-86 °F
Maceration technique:
Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Full
Fining agent:
no fining
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 hl
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
16 months
Age of Aging Container:
50%new oak, 50% second use
Length of bottle aging:
6 months

Analytical Data

pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
5.9 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Dry extract:
34.1 g/L
Residual sugar:
0.6 g/L

About the Vineyard

L'Alberello (head-pruned) is the way the vineyards are trained. It is a vineyard of 2 hectares trained in the traditional “settonce” formation, such that each vine is equidistant from the others surrounding it. This vineyard features mainly clay and is run according to the criteria of organic farming with a maximum production of 1 kg of grapes per vine. Harvesting and other works on the vines are done manually.