Bibi Graetz Testamatta 2015
Tax included.
Winery: Bibi Graetz
Vintage: 2015
Grape: Sangiovese
Drinking window: 2020 - 2035
Region: Tuscany
Production: 25.000 bottles
Milano Points: 110 Points
THE ITALIAN GRAPE (96)
The Testamatta 2015 is an excellent example of why 2015 was such a ripe year for Sangiovese. Despite some challenges in Tuscany, this vintage performed exceptionally well, producing world-class wines, including this outstanding Testamatta 2015. It offers notes of leather, black cherry, velum, dried herbs, black pepper, and chalk. The tannins are very well-balanced, and while it is already quite drinkable, I believe it will reach its full potential in about 10 to 12 years. It is still a bit firm and does not yet have the wow factor you expect from Testamatta. Give it a bit more time to develop.
JAMES SUCKLING (99)
A stunning wine. This is the best Testamatta ever made. Fascinating aromas of red fruits, tea, bark and wet soil as well as fresh leather. Full body, silky tannins and a juicy finish. I love the tension and texture of this great red. So gorgeous to taste now but better in 2021.
About the wine
Bibi Graetz embodies the spirit of his vineyard, Testamatta, which means "madcap" in Italian. A passionate and creative individual, Graetz took on the challenge of winemaking with the same intensity he initially pursued an artistic career. Located on his family’s Tuscan estate, Testamatta cultivates almost exclusively indigenous grape varieties using traditional methods. The estate's flagship wine is a Sangiovese that highlights the beauty of the variety with its elegance and long finish.
Though his Norwegian parents owned the estate, the vineyards were long neglected until Graetz decided to plant vines in the late 1990s. After an intensive four-year apprenticeship under experienced winemakers, he fully committed to winemaking, earning international recognition by 2003 when his wine was awarded best new red wine at VinExpo in Bordeaux. Today, Graetz's reputation as a winemaker continues to grow, with his wines often featuring his own original artwork. To meet increasing demand, he collaborates with local growers to source grapes for his other estate wines, such as Casamatta.
The 2015 vintage has been outstanding across Italy, with exceptional quality in key regions like Tuscany. Winter was mild with only a brief cold snap, and frost was limited to a few days on the higher, north-facing hills. Spring arrived early, supporting healthy vegetative growth through to the May bloom. The summer was notably hot, with just a few rainy days in mid-August and early September. Favorable weather persisted throughout the harvest, which began on September 28th and concluded on November 2nd under stable, sunny conditions. The wines are friendly and forward, with the best examples displaying a powerful yet elegant character, a testament to the season’s resilience.
