Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso 2019

As you might expect when a thirty dollar wine outclasses and nearly outpoints its next door neighbors in the region (Sassicaia and Ornellaia) at a fraction of the price – the sales board lit up like nothing we’ve seen before. Every bottle the importer brought in for the entire year for the entire country snuck out the door to the Nicholas faithful in two tiny emails (over 75 cases).

I have to give it up to the importer. This year the call wasn’t nearly so meek but they offered us first dibs. I accepted provided the Nicholas Faithful get it at last year’s price.

It’s hard to believe but the 2019 Grattamacco is even better than last year’s. This is probably a function of the vintage which was substantially hotter than most in recent memory and which strained all but the oldest vines until August rains came just in the knick of time.

Grattamacco is always a powerhouse with a youthful charm you can enjoy now but with the structure to age for a very long time. The 2019 takes it up a notch as the vines struggled, pulling water from deep within the earth and adding yet another level of complexity.

If you were one of the lucky ones last Spring, then you know what to do.