Toscana IGT Testamatta 2019 Bibi Graetz

What kind of wine is it

The Testamatta by Bibi Graetz in the twentieth-anniversary edition is a Tuscan red wine made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes, a Supertuscan that focuses on elegance and varietal purity. It comes from very old vines and is the winery’s flagship wine, first released with the 2000 vintage. This bottle celebrates twenty years of Testamatta with a balanced, deep, and complex red.

Where it comes from

The grapes come from top Tuscan terroirs, in vineyards with vines over 80 years old. Among them are Lamole and Montefili, in the heart of Chianti Classico, at roughly 600 and 400 meters above sea level respectively, Vincigliata near Florence at 280 meters, and Londa, north of Florence toward Rùfina, at 250 meters. This range of elevations and exposures contributes to the wine’s complexity. Bibi Graetz, the winery that produces it, is based in Tuscany.

How it is made

Each vineyard is harvested up to eight times to pick the bunches at their ideal ripeness. In the cellar, a second selection follows before destemming and a gentle pressing. Fermentations take place with native yeasts in open barriques, without temperature control and with six manual punch-downs per day. After seven to ten days of maceration, the wines from the different parcels go into wood for about two years of maturation.

Tasting notes

The twentieth-anniversary Testamatta presents as an elegant Sangiovese, with a fine-grained texture and a perfectly balanced structure. The profile is deep and nuanced, with complexity that unfolds on the nose and palate. The multiple-pass harvest and extended aging give the wine great complexity that invites slow, attentive tasting.

Food pairings

With its structure and elegance, it pairs with grilled red meats, roasts and braises, and it goes well with aged cheeses. It also marries beautifully with Tuscan cuisine, such as bistecca alla fiorentina and first courses with meat ragù. Its refined palate also makes it suitable for dishes of game birds.

When to serve it

Given its celebratory character, it’s a bottle for special occasions: an important dinner, an anniversary, or a gift for a Sangiovese enthusiast. It’s best served in a large-bowled glass and allowed to breathe for some time before pouring, so as to bring out its complexity. It also has good aging potential in bottle for those who wish to cellar it for a few years.