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Castello di Radda Granbruno 2018 | Super Tuscan

Castello di Radda Granbruno 2018 | Super Tuscan

£15.95

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Winemaker

Geographical Indication

Grape

,

Vintage

2018

ABV

13.5%

Style

Still Dry Red Wine

An elegant Super Tuscan wine from the mountains of Radda in the heartland of Chianti Classico. 60% Merlot and 40% Sangiovese

Granbruno is a very pleasant, entry-level Super Tuscan wine. Partly matured in stainless steel, it has a fresh flavour with notes of black cherry, violet and chocolate. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a casual dinner. This is a young wine from Castello di Radda; one of our favourite small wineries, hidden in the mountains behind the town of Radda. In terms of how many awards it’s won, this is one of Tuscany’s top wineries. They’ve brought home numerous titles: from Decanter Silver and Gold medals to Tre Bicchieri (Italy’s top accolade).

Granbruno is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. Both are grown on the picturesque south-facing vineyard which sits on a hill just behind the winery. The soil here has high levels of clay (which lends fruitiness and an easy-drinking feel), with fragments of alberese – aka white limestone (bringing complexity and elegance). All of the vineyards around Radda sit pretty high on the mountain. Because of that, wines from the area are known for freshness even in the hottest years. I’ve added photos of the vineyard and the soil, taken during our visit in August 2020, so you can see it for yourself.

Winemaking: alcoholic fermentation takes place in contact with the skins, within stainless steel tanks, at a controlled temperature for ten days. Then, the wine is aged for eight months – until the following summer. One half of the wine is refined in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness, and one half in large second-use oak barrels to lend subtle aromas of smoke and spice without overpowering the fruit-forward flavour.

Tasting notes: Purple colour, medium intensity. The wine has quite elegant, pronounced aromas of black cherry, cranberry, violet and rose, underpinned by some raspberry and strawberry. There are also gentle undertones of chocolate and vanilla. In the mouth, this Super Tuscan wine is off-dry with a touch of sweetness. It has medium levels of tannin and medium alcohol, and tastes like black cherry, rose petals and cherry jam.

Wine Geek’s verdict: Granbruno has a touch of sweetness, and a really pleasant aftertaste of cherry jam and roses. Castello di Radda is a serious winery. They generally make superb wines, and this is no exception. For an entry-level Super Tuscan, it has a lot of complexity and flavour.

Reviews and awards:  James Suckling – 91 points (2018 vintage) | Falstaff 2020 – 90 points Trophy (2018 vintage) | Luca Maroni – 92 points | Mundus Vini – Gold (2017 vintage)

SKU: STR-MER-IT-CDD-2018-01
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