Bibi Graetz Colore 2020

Colore is the flagship of Bibi Graetz, the Italian-Norwegian winemaker whose Tuscan wines, made at the Azienda Agricola Testamatta, have earned a devoted following. The fruit comes from old vines on the steep hills around Fiesole, overlooking Florence, planted to native varieties led by Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Colorino. The high, well-drained hillside sites and old vine age give low yields of small, concentrated berries, while the elevation and cooling air preserve the acidity that keeps a powerful wine fresh. Vinification favours the native fruit, and the wine ages for twenty-two months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood builds structure, refines the tannins and adds a savoury, spiced frame around the fruit. The colour is deep and concentrated. The nose offers intense red fruits with leather, earth and spicy hints. The palate is vibrant, powerful and harmonious, with ripe, firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish. This is a wine built to age. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting an hour or more ahead, with grilled red meat, game or a Tuscan beef dish.