SuperTuscans Italy

Bolgheri Tuscany Super-Tuscan Reds

I have been passionate about it, since before I could understand or appreciate it , and  writing about Wine all over the New and Old world since 2003. I've interviewed some of the finest winemakers and I'm going to share my notes with you here.

To start  off I will take you to a place I consider my home. as I've lived here since 2002. Now I travel  to all parts of the globe, but this area south of Livorno, where my parents-in-law live and I visit often, is very close to my heart.

So here goes - prepare yourself for some fine fine wines from the land of a thousand romantic pictures, Italy .

Tuscany is divided into several wine zones. Three of these are Bolgheri in the SW of the province of Livorno, the famed Chianti region southwest of Florence, stretching around Siena  and then  Montalcino in the province of Siena.

 Bolgheri Tuscany

Bolgheri, a town located in the comune of Castagneto Carducci(LI), on the edge  of the  Maremma about 60km South west of  Florence, is the birthplace of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia  fine wines in  the Super-Tuscan trend. In the last twenty years wine from Bolgheri has received attention for the quality of its wines, and also from traditional Chianti winegrowers who did not approve of the new blendings being employed with the venerable Sangiovese. Some Pioneering winemakers here  began blending the grapes of Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon,  producing a style of wine more in line with the Bordeaux tradition. This region was ruled out as a optimum region in the past because of its proximity to the sea, said to produce wines with a “salty flavour”.

In 1994 the classification  of DOC Bolgheri Rosso and Rosso Superiore signified  recognition of the use of these different grapes, and these classifications now incorporate ten estates. However, rather ironically, pioneer, Satta's Vigna a Cavaliere (100% Sangiovese) is not recognized by regulators, and only managed to achieve the IGT designation. One further category was created-that of DOC Sassicaia, the first and only single estate in Italy to achieve this. Quite a distinction which is reflected in the price and because internationally and especially in America, people recognise them as fine Italian wines, but are often unaware of the origins in Bolgheri. The same is true of other Super-Tuscans;  Ornellaia and Belvedere's Guado al Tasso  associated with the famed Antinori family and not with the land it was produced from in Bolgheri. Top Wine producers in Bolgheri include:

Az. Agr. CASTELLO DI BOLGHERI Bolgheri

 
Az. Agr. LE MACCHIOLE Bolgheri

Tenuta ORNELLAIA S.P.A. Bolgheri

Az. Agr. CASTELLO DI BOLGHERI Bolgheri

Az. Agr. CHIAPPINI GIOVANNI Bolgheri

DONNA OLIMPIA 1898 S.R.L.Bolgheri

Tenuta SAN GUIDO - C.I.T.A.I S.P.A Bolgheri

The wine I want to talk about today comes from  Collemassari SPA soc agricola nel Podere Grattamacco in Castagneto Carducci .
Collemassari Rosso Montecucco 2000.
 The estate it comes from: Grattamacco - ColleMassari  Address: ColleMassari-Grattamacco, Loc Lungagnano 129, 57022 Castagneto Carducci (LI), Italy Telephone: +39 0565 765 069 Website: www.collemassari.it

The wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot And Sangiovese has a lovely intense ruby colour in the glass and on the nose; ripe fruits, plum and a hint of  smokiness.

On the palate; good mineral quality, plum with strong tannins and a long finish. The wine could be laid down for awhile to improve, but was a good match for the typical Tuscan fare we ate with it. I had  Pappardelle con porcini and my partner a huge saucepan of  rich tomato seafood soup like the Caciucco Livorno is famous for. This wine would pair very well with game too.

The present-day name of Castagneto Carducci was given to the ancient fief in 1907, in honour of the poet Giosue’ Carducci who stayed there as an adolescent and who always remained tied to it. For this reason, its’citizens decided to change the name that it had at that time, Castagneto Marittimo, to that of Castagneto Carducci.

Dominated by the castle of the della Gherardesca counts, Castagneto Carducci has all the charm of a typical Tuscan village with steep streets. Today, only a section of the walls remain, facing the sea. The local Spar sells the makings of a good picnic to enjoy with the view.  

In Via Carducci, there is the house where the poet lived in 1848  with the "Centro Carducciano".  A visit to Castagneto cannot end without a walk to Piazzale Belvedere, located in a panoramic position, from where there’s a great vista right to the coast. Giovanni  Chiappini’s estate in the centre of Bolgheri is lovely for a walk  among the Cyprus trees, accommodation is available there. We couldn’t resist the Cyprus road walk at Bolgheri and then got reluctantly back into our car to drive back to Livorno, to my parents-in-law who live just down the road. We’ll be back.

How to reach Bolgheri and  Castagneto Carducci: From Livorno, take direction south  to Grosseto on the  SS1. After about 50 Km exit at  Donoratico and follow signs for Castagneto Carducci  6 km

Distances: Livorno 56 Km - Florence 120 Km - Pisa 72 Km - Siena 110 Km - Arezzo 190 Km

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