Grattamacco’s Bolgheri Superiore 2022 is the estate’s flagship red from the coastal Tuscan appellation of Bolgheri Superiore DOC, and it marks the wine’s 40th vintage. Grattamacco, founded in 1977 and managed by Claudio Tipa since 2002, farms a hillside site between 100 and 200 meters above sea level, with a mix of quartz-rich sandstone, white clay, and calcareous-marl flysch. The estate has been organically farmed since 1997, according to Vinifera-Mundi.
The 2022 blend is classic for the house: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Sangiovese. Grapes are hand-picked, then fermented in open oak vats with “gentle manual punch-downs,” as the winery notes. Élevage is substantial but standard for the category: at least 18 months in French oak barriques, followed by bottle aging; the winery reports the wine was bottled in August 2024. Alcohol is 14.5%.
The growing season was defined by heat and drought, with late rain resetting the pace. Vinifera-Mundi describes 2022 as “complex and unpredictable,” with “rainfall between mid-August and early September… decisive in restoring balance,” and a harvest window running from August 25 to September 24. The winery similarly cites an early-summer drought followed by “abundant rainfall late in the season.” In Grattamacco’s framing, the result is “a rare harmony of structure and freshness,” with “vibrant tension” as a house signature.
In critical terms, this is an excellently reviewed release on the evidence available: Jeb Dunnuck scored it 98 points (as reported by Winebow and a retail listing). Winebow adds tasting shorthand, noting a “youthful red/purple hue” and a “blue-fruited nature.” Vinifera-Mundi emphasizes texture and site character, pointing to a “saline imprint and ultra-fine tannins.” A retailer description acknowledges “the stress of a hot year with late rains,” but still highlights a “long, balanced finish.”
Drinkers looking for a structured Bolgheri red with freshness and aging potential should note the suggested window reported with the Dunnuck score: 2027–2050.
