Grattamacco
About Grattamacco
Whilst the famous Tenuta San Guido, producer of legendary Sassicaia and first iconic estate established in Bolgheri, is a name know across the world by those with even a passing interest in fine wine, Grattamacco is an altogether more hidden gem.
A true champion of the hallowed terroir that is coastal Bolgheri, Grattamacco is perched atop a hill facing the Tyrrhenian Sea and was founded by adventurous entrepreneur Piermario Meletti Cavallari in 1977. Far from an investment-driven by the head, the establishing of Grattamacco was undoubtedly a leap of faith into what current winemaker Lucca Marrone describes as “the wild west” of viticulture.
Five long, hard years it took before the estate’s derelict buildings and neglected farmland were in a fit enough state to release Grattamacco’s first-ever vintage in 1982, a full three years ahead of the mighty Ornellaia’s debut. In something of a further leap of faith, and ultimately a testament to Cavallari’s belief in Bolgheri as a force to be reckoned with in fine wine, Grattamacco was the very first producer to label its top wine as “Bolgheri” rather than the ubiquitous (in the 1980s) “Super Tuscan”.
Laying the foundations, by all rights, of our modern understanding of everything from soil typography to microclimate and weather patterns thanks to the radical study commissioned by Grattamacco at the University of Milan, this is a wine of astounding importance and should be on the radar of all true lovers of Italian fine wine.

Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£436.84 |
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Tuscany | 13 | 88 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£188.69 |
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Wine Advocate (88)The organic Grattamacco 2022 Bolgheri Rosso shows a dark, inky appearance with syrupy aromas of blackberry cream and cherry liqueur. There is a lot of ripeness here, too much, in fact, to say the wine is balanced. Despite the very opulent bouquet on offer here, it ends with medium length and a hint of bitter dryness to close. The blend is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot, all aged for a brief eight months in oak. Production is an ample 110,000 bottles. |
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|
Tuscany | 20 | 89 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£199.49 |
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Wine Advocate (89)The organic Grattamacco 2023 Bolgheri Rosso was a little closed when I tasted my sample. The wine shows a firmness and concentration that you don't get in the much looser 2022 vintage that I tasted at the same time. There is plenty of dark fruit, baked plum and dried cherry skins, but the wine also delivers some spice and burnt ember that add a savory signature. The blend is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot, with 110,000 bottles released. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£492.04 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The 2015 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is big, bold and absolutely stunning. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese is dark and luscious, with overlapping melodies of tobacco, spice, dark fruit and grilled herb. There is so much depth and power. This vintage is a gem for your cellar, and the wine should award a long aging trajectory for those who have the patience to wait. Some 50,000 bottles were made. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£450.04 |
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Decanter (97)Grattamacco is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, located just beneath the village of Castagneto Carducci. It has a distinctive contribution of 15% Sangiovese to the blend, along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This indigenous grape gives the wine a particular freshness and drinkability, rejuvenating the tension of the classic Bordeaux varieties. In 2016, Grattamacco has exceeded itself, with aromas of elegant, youthful red currant fruits integrated with citrus notes and cedar wood. On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced, and more immediately drinkable than some of the other top samples. It has delicious tension and ripeness, with a mediterranean character and a hint of kiwi on the finish. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£495.64 |
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Decanter (96)The contribution of Sangiovese (15%) in the blend of Grattamacco makes it a distinctive Bolgheri Superiore. If on the nose Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are prevailing with cassis fruit, cedar and kiwi, full of balsamic depth, the indigenous grape pushes the fragrance of the wine with chewy wild fruit flavours. An exceptional expression in the hot vintage. Complex and layered, without any foursquare character, this organic wine is waiting for extra complexity over its liquorice finish. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£402.04 |
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Wine Advocate (96)Coming on the heels of the scorching hot 2017, this vintage started off with lots of rain in April and May that required preventative measures against fungal disease. Splendid heat and sunshine marked the summer months, but the freshness you taste in this wine is a beautiful characteristic of this cooler growing season. The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco reveals a finely nuanced bouquet with dark fruit, tobacco, smoke and earthy garrigue or underbrush. The wine leans toward full-bodied, but it also feels quite elegant and crisp on the streamlined finish. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£192.41 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£486.04 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£416.44 |
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Vinous (97)A stellar wine, the 2020 Grattamacco is dark, vibrant and nuanced to the core. Black fruit, lavender, spice, leather, menthol and dried herbs infuse the 2020 with tons of character and complexity. Deep yet also wonderfully translucent, the 2020 is one of the most finessed Grattamaccos I can remember tasting. There’s incredible depth and resonance here, not to mention tons of personality. |
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|
Tuscany | 10 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£324.29 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Now an IGT Toscana wine, the Grattamacco 2021 L'Alberello (made with certified organic fruit) is a full-bodied expression with layers of dark fruit, sweet plum, spice and dark rose. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc with 18 months of barrique aging. The wine is abundant and rich, but the 2011 vintage holds back just a little in order to give back more later with bottle age. The mouthfeel is linear, firm but generous. This is a 9,000-bottle release. |
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|
Tuscany | 10 | - |
Inc. VAT
£228.29 |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 91 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£245.09 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)Compared to its peers, the organic Grattamacco 2022 Bolgheri Vermentino takes the complexity of this grape up a notch with mineral notes and candied citrus fruit from hot and dry growing conditions. The wine is silky and smooth in texture with a little extra richness in this vintage. Grattamacco takes its Vermentino program very seriously, and this is one of the first estates to champion this versatile white grape found along the northern Tyrrhenian shores of Italy and France. Indeed, fruit comes from one of the oldest plantings in Bolgheri. Aging is 30% in tonneaux and 70% in stainless steel for six months. This is a 15,000-bottle release. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
£348.00 |
|||||
|
Tuscany | 13 | 88 (WA) |
In Bond
£138.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (88)The organic Grattamacco 2022 Bolgheri Rosso shows a dark, inky appearance with syrupy aromas of blackberry cream and cherry liqueur. There is a lot of ripeness here, too much, in fact, to say the wine is balanced. Despite the very opulent bouquet on offer here, it ends with medium length and a hint of bitter dryness to close. The blend is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot, all aged for a brief eight months in oak. Production is an ample 110,000 bottles. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 20 | 89 (WA) |
In Bond
£147.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (89)The organic Grattamacco 2023 Bolgheri Rosso was a little closed when I tasted my sample. The wine shows a firmness and concentration that you don't get in the much looser 2022 vintage that I tasted at the same time. There is plenty of dark fruit, baked plum and dried cherry skins, but the wine also delivers some spice and burnt ember that add a savory signature. The blend is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot, with 110,000 bottles released. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£394.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)The 2015 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is big, bold and absolutely stunning. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese is dark and luscious, with overlapping melodies of tobacco, spice, dark fruit and grilled herb. There is so much depth and power. This vintage is a gem for your cellar, and the wine should award a long aging trajectory for those who have the patience to wait. Some 50,000 bottles were made. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£359.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Grattamacco is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, located just beneath the village of Castagneto Carducci. It has a distinctive contribution of 15% Sangiovese to the blend, along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This indigenous grape gives the wine a particular freshness and drinkability, rejuvenating the tension of the classic Bordeaux varieties. In 2016, Grattamacco has exceeded itself, with aromas of elegant, youthful red currant fruits integrated with citrus notes and cedar wood. On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced, and more immediately drinkable than some of the other top samples. It has delicious tension and ripeness, with a mediterranean character and a hint of kiwi on the finish. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 4 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£397.00 |
|||||
Decanter (96)The contribution of Sangiovese (15%) in the blend of Grattamacco makes it a distinctive Bolgheri Superiore. If on the nose Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are prevailing with cassis fruit, cedar and kiwi, full of balsamic depth, the indigenous grape pushes the fragrance of the wine with chewy wild fruit flavours. An exceptional expression in the hot vintage. Complex and layered, without any foursquare character, this organic wine is waiting for extra complexity over its liquorice finish. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£319.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)Coming on the heels of the scorching hot 2017, this vintage started off with lots of rain in April and May that required preventative measures against fungal disease. Splendid heat and sunshine marked the summer months, but the freshness you taste in this wine is a beautiful characteristic of this cooler growing season. The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco reveals a finely nuanced bouquet with dark fruit, tobacco, smoke and earthy garrigue or underbrush. The wine leans toward full-bodied, but it also feels quite elegant and crisp on the streamlined finish. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£155.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£389.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 2 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£331.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)A stellar wine, the 2020 Grattamacco is dark, vibrant and nuanced to the core. Black fruit, lavender, spice, leather, menthol and dried herbs infuse the 2020 with tons of character and complexity. Deep yet also wonderfully translucent, the 2020 is one of the most finessed Grattamaccos I can remember tasting. There’s incredible depth and resonance here, not to mention tons of personality. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 10 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£251.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)Now an IGT Toscana wine, the Grattamacco 2021 L'Alberello (made with certified organic fruit) is a full-bodied expression with layers of dark fruit, sweet plum, spice and dark rose. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc with 18 months of barrique aging. The wine is abundant and rich, but the 2011 vintage holds back just a little in order to give back more later with bottle age. The mouthfeel is linear, firm but generous. This is a 9,000-bottle release. |
|||||||||
|
Tuscany | 10 | - |
In Bond
£171.00 |
|||||
|
Tuscany | 2 | 91 (WA) |
In Bond
£185.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)Compared to its peers, the organic Grattamacco 2022 Bolgheri Vermentino takes the complexity of this grape up a notch with mineral notes and candied citrus fruit from hot and dry growing conditions. The wine is silky and smooth in texture with a little extra richness in this vintage. Grattamacco takes its Vermentino program very seriously, and this is one of the first estates to champion this versatile white grape found along the northern Tyrrhenian shores of Italy and France. Indeed, fruit comes from one of the oldest plantings in Bolgheri. Aging is 30% in tonneaux and 70% in stainless steel for six months. This is a 15,000-bottle release. |