2019 Bibi Graetz Testamatta (750ml)

Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Much like its founder, Bibi Graetz’s 100% Sangiovese Testamatta may be known as something of an outlier among traditional Super Tuscans, but as in all things wine, the proof is in the glass - and Testamatta delivers the goods. Boasting rich “floral and fruit aromatics, with focus and subtle power” according to critic Jane Anson, the 20th anniversary 97 pt. 2019 Bibi Graetz Testamatta offers silky, lush fruit with soft, superbly balanced tannins and mineral-driven complexity, showing “how good a pure Sangiovese can be” according to James Suckling and now at the best price on the market.

Beginning with a small two-hectare vineyard on his parents' property overlooking Florence in 2000, founder and artist by trade Bibi Graetz developed his winemaking prowess without any formal training, quickly garnering 90 plus point ratings from critics across the board. Sourced from his five top organically farmed vineyards throughout Tuscany, the 2019 Testamatta comes from low-density Sangiovese plantings on clay and galestro soils at high elevations with some vines over 70 years, hand-harvested over multiple passes to select grapes at optimal ripeness. Fermenting each parcel separately with indigenous yeasts in a mix of stainless tanks, large open top barriques and smaller barrels, Bibi aged the outstanding 2019 Testamatta for 20 months in neutral barrels and oak casks and six months more in bottle, yielding a richly structured Sangiovese that “just shines from the moment it’s poured” according to Decanter.

Called “one of Tuscany’s true cult wines” by James Suckling and earning a coveted spot on his list of Top 100 Wines of Italy 2021, the 97 pt. 2019 Bibi Graetz Testamatta blends old vine fruit from diverse vineyard sites to create a harmonious expression of Sangiovese, offering great depth and structure for aging at an outstanding value.

97JS

96JA

Very attractive combination of dried fruit and spices with black cherries and plums. Aromas of flowers and sandalwood, too. Full-bodied and very refined, yet intense, with plush, velvety tannins that are wonderfully integrated and intertwined with the fruit. Ripe center palate. Tight at the end, suggesting the need for some serious bottle age. Very structured. Try after 2025.

97 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

20 year anniversary vintage at this brilliant 58ha estate, and it’s hard not to love the complexity and the sense of controlled power. Raspberry, black cherry, butterscotch, truffle, scorched earth and slate, cleverly put together with clear confidence. So much happens after the wine has left your mouth - it has a whole second act where much of the nuance appears. It’s the detail that sets Testamatta apart - with the team going through the vineyard up to 8 times to ensure picking when ripe - from estate-owned plots across Tuscany where the vines range from 5 years old up to 80 years old from 400m to 600m altitude. Natural yeasts, six manual punch downs per day, 10 days maceration maximum and barrel ageing with no new oak.

96 points, Jane Anson (Oct 2021)

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$89.98

13 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 6

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