2016 Podere Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore DOC 750 ml

Founded in 1977, Grattamacco is second only to Sassicaia as Bolgheri’s oldest Super Tuscan. The estate blazed the path for the likes of Ornellaia and Antinori’s Guado al Tasso—and their 2016 Bolgheri Superiore proves they’re still at the front of the pack. Boasting a 97-point score that equals Ornellaia and even tops the $393 Solaia, we’ve got this Super Tuscan star for about 1/5 of that.

Consisting of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot invigorated by 15% Sangiovese, this star has all the regal bearing that collectors have come to expect from the Bolgheri estates that challenge the best of Bordeaux. An iconic bottling year in and year out, Grattamacco has, according to Decanter’s glowing 97-point review, “exceeded itself” with the stellar ‘16. 

It has also exceeded most other Super Tuscans, including ones bearing enormous triple-digit price tags. For fans of First Growth Bordeaux and first-class Bordeaux-style blends from Italy and Napa Valley, this is the definition of an over-performing collectible: Cellar five bottles for the price of a single Solaia, and enjoy the wine (and the fact that you paid 1/5 Solaia’s price) over the next decade or more. 

Podere Grattamacco is situated on 67 acres that span one of only two hills in Bolgheri, where they have a panoramic view of the Tuscan coast. That’s where vines that average 24 years of age are planted in calcareous sandstone, marl, and clay, producing the precious Cabernet, Merlot, and Sangiovese that make up this wine. 

Winemaker Luca Marrone and proprietor Claudio Tipa (who also owns Montalcino’s famed, high-scoring Poggio di Sotto) can afford to farm their vineyards organically, thanks to their estate’s distinct maritime-influenced microclimate. The steep hilltop that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea sees 300 sunny days a year, with brisk ocean breezes refreshing the vines. This combination of conditions promotes exquisite ripeness and produces wines of opulence and classical Tuscan structure and rusticity. Conditions were fantastic in the 96-point 2016 season, and blessed Tuscany with one of its finest vintages ever. 

After spontaneous fermentation in oak vats, Grattamacco is punched down manually then macerated, releasing only fully ripe tannins. Bottled after 21 months in French oak barriques, it’s now hitting a beautiful stride: Intense aromas of cassis, black cherry, cinnamon, allspice, clove, mocha, pipe tobacco, and toast collide with hints of wild sage and crushed rocks. With firm tannins lending layers of texture to ripe blackberry fruit, wild herbs, and sweet spice, it finishes with a lingering hint of toast that makes it irresistible now—and it will only get better in the cellar. 

This is a collectible Super Tuscan that comes at a fraction of the price of its competition. Reward yourself (and future self!) with a few bottles.