Grattamacco, the real Bolgheri

Sassicaia may be considered by many to be the seminal Super-Tuscan, but it's Sassicaia's neighbour, Grattamacco, which many Italian wine lovers consider to be the greatest expression of Bolgheri, the coastal part of Tuscany which is also home to Frescobaldi's Ornellaia, Gaja's Ca'Marcanda and Antinori's Guado al Tasso.

Founded in 1977, Grattamacco is the second oldest wine producer in this relatively young appellation (the current set of DOC regualtions for Bolgheri reds was ratified in 1994). The estate comprises 14 hectares of vines in a single plot on some of the highest and steepest slopes in the DOC, and borders a 1,600 hectare forest which is strictly protected so that no new vineyards can be planted. The site shares many of the characteristics of the very finest plots owned by Tenuta San Guido, but Grattamacco comprises none of its rival's lower-lying land. Hence this is the real Bolgheri.

Certified organic, the estate is owned by businessman Claudio Tipa and his sister Maria Iris, together with ColleMassari in Montecucco and, since 2011, the legendary Montalcino property, Poggio di Sotto. In addition to the pre-shipment offer of the flagship Bolgheri Rosso Superiore, we have physical stock of the estate's excellent second wine, their Bolgheri Rosso. /AR