B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
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. |