Wine
Name: Piastraia 2023, Bolgheri Superiore DOC
Winery: Michele Satta
Grapes: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Origin: Castagneto Carducci, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
Vintage: 2023 (the 30th harvest of Piastraia)
Ageing: Barrique
Appearance
Intensity: Deep
Colour: Ruby with a purple rim
Nose
Condition: Clean
Intensity: Pronounced
Aroma Characteristics:
Primary: Blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, mint and Mediterranean herbs, a graphite note
Secondary: Cedar, sweet spice and a touch of vanilla from the barrique
Tertiary: None yet: a youthful wine, still developing and opening up in the glass
Development: Youthful
Palate
Sweetness: Dry
Acidity: Medium (+)
Tannin: High, but velvety and fine-grained
Alcohol: Medium (+)
Body: Full
Flavour Intensity: Pronounced
Flavour Characteristics: Layered dark fruit, cassis and black cherry, with cedar, herbs and sweet spice; a savoury, Mediterranean core
Finish: Long
Conclusions
Quality Assessment: Outstanding. Balanced, intense and complex, with the freshness and structure of a great Bolgheri Superiore
Bottle Ageing: Approachable now with decanting, at its best from 2028 to 2040
Final Remarks
The first Piastraia without Sangiovese and Giacomo Satta's own reading of Bolgheri, inspired by his love for Saint-Julien: very expressive, and it literally opened up in the glass while we talked. Piastraia only became a Bolgheri Superiore in 2012, when Michele Satta judged his vineyards old enough. Rated 97 points by James Suckling, 95 by Wine Advocate, 94 by Wine Enthusiast and 93 by Vinous and Falstaff. Pair it with bistecca alla fiorentina, roast lamb or wild boar.
