【Winery】
From the popular introductory Casamatta series by the brilliant Tuscan winemaker Bibi Graetz, this Casamatta Bianco 2024 perfectly captures the allure of the Mediterranean island terroir. The grapes are sourced from Giglio, an island off the coast of Tuscany, and are a blend of Ansonica, Vermentino, and Trebbiano Toscano. These younger vines share the same terroir as the older vines used in the winery's flagship wine, Testamatta, carrying the same terroir genes.
【production area】
Located off the coast of Tuscany, **Giglio Island (Isola del Giglio)** is a historic granite island in the Mediterranean Sea. Surrounded by sea breezes, it enjoys abundant sunshine and a moderate temperature difference between day and night. The vineyards are built into the hillsides, and the soil, primarily composed of weathered granite and minerals, imparts a distinctive minerality and a salty, briny maritime character to the wines. The white wines produced here typically combine ripe fruit aromas, crisp acidity, and a delicate savory quality, fully showcasing the freshness and vitality of the Mediterranean island terroir.
【Regarding brewing】
In addition to organic farming, the 22-hectare vineyards have also adopted biodynamic farming methods in some areas. The winery team's philosophy is to focus most of their attention on the vineyards and minimize intervention in winemaking. Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted and selected in the winery, and the winemaking process differs between red and white wines. The red wine is 100% destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts (including skin-washing), then aged in oak barrels for approximately 12 months (the ratio of new barrels varies depending on the plot), followed by 6 months of settling in large vats before unfiltered bottling. The white wine, on the other hand, is gently pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged in oak barrels for 12 months, then transferred to large vats for settling, and finally unfiltered bottling. It's worth noting that the winery carefully selects oak barrels to avoid adding excessive woody aromas. The wines possess a rich and layered aroma, combining roundness and tension, resulting in a delicate and captivating character.
Casamatta Rosso 2023 continues Bibi Graetz's recent pursuit of purity, precision, and terroir expression in winemaking. Through more rigorous vineyard management and meticulous winemaking techniques, it fully showcases the vibrant and elegant side of Tuscan red wine. This wine is characterized by ripe and vibrant fruit aromas, complemented by a smooth and delicate texture and balanced acidity. It retains the grapes' most natural character while presenting a more refined and layered overall style, fully reflecting the winery's significant improvement in quality in recent years.
Wine Description: Testamatta is BibiGraetz's flagship wine, made from 50-80 year old Sangiovese grapes. Fermentation takes place in 225L small French oak barrels with an average of eight punchdowns per day. It is then aged in small French oak barrels for 24 months, followed by six months of bottle aging.
The aromas are extremely rich, with powerful black fruit and violet notes, along with intense cedar, leather, chocolate, and smoky flavors. On the palate, it presents a silky texture with smooth tannins. Its structure and layered character perfectly showcase the depth and style of a top-tier Tuscan cult wine!
