2008 Grilli di Testamatta
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2008 Grilli del Testamatta offers up plump, juicy red fruit and sweet spices from French oak in a supple, accessible style best suited to near-term enjoyment. In 2008 Graetz used the best fruit he was able to salvage from his top vineyard to strengthen this entry-level effort, but even that wasn't enough to fully overcome the challenges of a very hard growing season.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Grilli del Testamatta offers up plump, juicy red fruit and sweet spices from French oak in a supple, accessible style best suited to near-term enjoyment. In 2008 Graetz used the best fruit he was able to salvage from his top vineyard to strengthen this entry-level effort, but even that wasn’t enough to fully overcome the challenges of a very hard growing season. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. Nature was not kind to Bibi Graetz in 2008. Hail caused significant damage in the main Testamatta vineyard, so Graetz passed on bottling his flagship wine, a shame since Testamatta has established itself as one of the most exciting wines in Italy. Various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Trilussa Wine Company, Greenbrae CA; tel. (415) 499 8466, Siema Wines LLC, Springfield, VA; tel. (703) 455-1200, MS Walker, Sommerville, MA; tel. (617) 776-6700
About the producer
Based just outside Florence, Bibi Graetz is something of a maverick in the Tuscan wine scene. Working with old vineyards of indigenous grapes around Chianti, he produces intense wines classified as IGT Toscana; not fitting neatly in either the Super Tuscan or Chianti camp.