Orders are available for pick-up at Restaurant Nicholas at 160 Route 35 South Red Bank, NJ 07701 during the following times:
Monday: 9:30-3:30; Tuesday – Friday: 9:15am – 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm; Sunday: Closed
$119.00 $84.00
Founded in 1977, and acquired by the Tipa Bertarelli Family in 2002, Grattamacco was one of first the two wineries in Bolgheri. A region typically known for Cabernet and Merlot, Grattamacco sets itself apart from surrounding wineries with its winemaking practices using 15% Sangiovese to impart quality and elegance in its wines. Grattamacco was the first winery in Bolgheri to use Sangiovese because of its high altitude despite its proximity to the coast.
This move may have seemed risky at the time, but the results are impossible to argue. The wines of Grattamacco are now mentioned in the same sentence as Ornellaia and Sassacaia – and a lot of the things I read, people prefer Grattamacco’s wines (at least in their youth). They are extraordinary examples of what the SuperTuscan category can bring.
In the 2019 vintage, the Superiore was a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese. Unsurprisingly, this beautiful wine is accompanied by two separate 97-point scores (the highest ever) from two major publications, just to give you a sense of what you’re working with. It was also the #12 wine of the year from Wine Spectator in their annual Top 100 report. It’s an aromatic and powerful blend with with notes of small, fully ripe red fruits, accompanied Mediterranean spices and minerality. It displays a remarkable freshness – and is refined and well-balanced with fine and enveloping tannins. All of this indicates that this beauty has a long life ahead. This is a collector’s dream.
Out of stock
97 Points (#12 Wine of the Year), Wine Spectator
Dense and smooth, featuring black cherry, blackberry, plum, iron, licorice and menthol aromas and flavors. Fresh and featuring a spine of tannins, this finishes on the compact side for now. Shows balance, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Best from 2025.
97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco (a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese) is a real beauty and shows very nicely today based on advancing vine age alone. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines show great results after seven years, whereas Merlot and Sangiovese vines need a few more years before they start to show that extra degree of complexity, the winemaking team tells me. This is a complete and beautifully balanced wine that shows soft extraction and especially sweet tannins. It fermented in truncated conical oak vats and finished in barrique for 18 months.
96 Points, Decanter
Grattamacco is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese, which certainly contributes to the fresher style of this wine. The whole picture is complete only when understanding that the vineyards used for this blend are among the highest of the appellation. According to winemaker Luca Marrone, in 2019 the ripening of the grapes was slow and the harvests took place on 4 October. Grattamacco shines for its signature leafy, Mediterranean forest aromas, with assertive kiwi peel, restrained cassis, bell pepper and chocolate flavours. The attack is velvety, youthful and firm, less easy-going compared to Alberello but more tight-knit and extremely elegant – the Sangiovese grapes seem to emphasise the red freshness of the fruit. The length is amazing.
Chad’s 2020 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is drop dead gorgeous. Those of you who were lucky to catch our sneak preview when we put it in our Gobbler Case can attest. Dark purple to the rim with aromas of black fruits, violets, creme de cassis and a hint of spice. On the palate, full-bodied, round and juicy with elegance and the gorgeous, pure fruit– red and black currants, blackberries and a touch of sweet tobacco.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
95 Points, Vinous
“The 2021 Syrah-Grenache is another fabulous wine from Tyler and Rachel Eck. Bright, savory, and vibrant, the 2021 bristles with energy from the get go. Lively acids run through a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, cloves and menthol. The 2021 is deep and full of flavor yet also light on its feet. Today, it is positively stellar.” -Antonio Galloni
95 Points, James Suckling – 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
From the creative mind and winemaking prowess of Screaming Eagle’s own Andy Erickson, comes a passion project unlike any other. The goal at Leviathan is to make only one wine a year– the biggest red in the U.S. Sourced from some of the best vineyards up and down the coast (you can thank Andy and Screaming Eagle for that), this Bordeaux blend features ample Cabernet rounded out with Petit Verdot and Merlot. It’s a big, intense wine that will only get better with age, though its great right now and amazingly under $40/btl for an Andy Erickson wine. That should be more than enough any day!
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